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AN EXCITING MOMENT. 



American Game Fishes 



THEIR HABITS, HABITAT, 

AND PECULIARITIES ; HOW, WHEN, AND WHERE 

TO ANGLE FOR THEM. 



BY 



W. A. Perry (" Sillalicum "), A. A. Mosher, W. H. H. Murray, 

W. D. ToMLiN, A. N. Cheney, Prof. G. Brown Goode, 

W. N. Haldeman, Francis Endicott, Fred. Mather, 

S. C. Clarke, Rev. Luther Pardee, Charles Hallock, 

F. H. Thurston (" Kelpie "), J. Harrington Keene, 

Prof. David Starr Jordan, William C. Harris, 

B. C. Milam, G. O. Shields ("Coquina"), 

J. G. A. Creighton, Dr. J. A. Henshall. 



A7/J >c 



V 



chicago and new york: 

Rand, McNally & Company, Publishers. 

1892. 



Copyright, 1892, by Rand, McNally & Co. 



' 2^C/ 



PREFACE 



Some one has said that the easiest way to write a book is to get 
some one else to write it. I pondered over this remark for several 
days and then said to myself: " If it be well to get some one else 
to write it, would it not be better to get several others ? " Surely. 

And so I requested a number of my good friends, ardent 
anglers, careful students of Ichthyology, and men who wield the pen 
as gracefully as the fly-rod, to tell the world what they know of 
their favorites of the crystal waters. Hence this book. 

It would be impossible for me to express my thanks to these 
gentlemen, in words, for their noble work, but every reader of this 
book will join me in praising their efforts and in wishing them long 
life and a full measure of that grand sport they have taught us to 
love. 

One of my contributors, dear old Francis Endicott, has, since 
penning his charming paper on the Striped Bass, gone to his reward. 
Peace to his ashes ! May an eternity of cool shades and sparkling 
waters be his portion. 

The Editor. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE. 

Introduction A. N. Cheney. ii 

The Salmon Charles Hallock, 17 

Associate Editor The American Angler ; author of " Tlie Sports- 
man's Gazetteer," etc. 

The Pacific Salmon . W. A. Verry {'' SiV/a/icu/n"), 51 

Author of " Elk-Hunting in the Olympic Mountains," etc. 

The Land-Locked Salmon . . J. G. A. Creighton. 81 
The Tarpon W. N. Haldeman, hi 

President The Louisville Courier-Journal Co. 

The Striped Bass .... Francis Endicott, 131 

President The National Rod and Reel Association. 

The Black Bass .... Dr. J. A. Henshall, 149 

Author of " The Book of the Black Bass," "More About the Black 
Bass," etc. 

The Bluefish .... Prof. G. Brown Goode, 175 

Assistant Secretary The Smithsonian Institution, and author of 
"American Fishes," etc. 

The Mascalonge . ' . . . Dr. J. A. Henshall. 191 
The Mascalonge in Wisconsin Waters . A. A. Mosher, 199 

Ex-member of the Iowa Fish Commission. 

The Brook Trout . F. H. Thurston (^'Kelpie''). 209 

Trouting on the Nipigon . W. H. H. Murray, 233 

Author of "Daylight Land," " Adirondack Tales," etc. 



contents. 

The Lake Trout , . Rev. Luther Pardee. 237 

The Rocky Mountain Trout, G. O. Shields (" Coquiua "). 267 

Sea Bass, Sea Trout, Spanish Mackerel, 
Grouper, Mangrove Snapper, Sheeps- 

HEAD, and other SOUTHERN FiSHES . S. C. ClARKE, 287 
Author of "Fishes of the Atlantic Coast," etc. 

The Grayling F. H. Thurston. 345 

The Pike W. D. Tomlin, 367 

Secretary The Dulutli Fisheries Associatioti. 

The Wall-Eyed Pike .... A. A. Mosher. 381 

The Pickerel W. D. Tomlin. 387 

The White Perch Fred. Mather, 397 

Late Anghng Editor Forest and Stream, Assistant to the LTnited 
States Pish Commission, and Superintendent of the New 
Y'orli State Fish Commission. 

The Yellow Bass, White Bass, Strawberry 
Bass, Rock Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Yel- 
low Perch, and Minor Perch and Sun- 
fishes . . . Prof. David Starr Jord.an, 407 

President The University of Indiana; author of "Synopsis of 
Fishes of North America," " Science Sketches," etc. 

The Senses of Fishes . . . William C. Harris, 439 

Editor Tlie American Angler. 

Fishing-Tackle, and How to Make It. 

J. Harrington Keene, 445 

Author of "The Practical Fisherman," "Fishing-Tackle, Its 
Material and Manufacture," etc. 

Reels, Their Use and Abuse . . B. C. Milam. 541 

The Angler's Camp Outfit . . . G. O. Shields. 549 



INTRODUCTION. 



BY A. NELSON CHENEY. 



THE wealth of fishes on the North American Continent 
known as game fishes— fishes taken for sport and for food 
with rod and hne— is not equaled, nor is it even ap- 
proached, by the fishes of any other of the grand divisions of the 
earth. Of Salmon and Trout alone— the chiefs of game fishes 
—there are, native and introduced, about thirty species, and 
that is but a beginning of the list of fishes which abound in the 
fresh and salt water of the United States and British Posses- 
sions. This grand array of fishes has been classified, and each 
has found its proper place in icthhyology. One or two men 
were equal to the task of accomplishing this scientific work, but 
no one or two men have attempted to give a thorough popular 
description of these fishes, their habits and habitat, and the 
manner of, and tools used in, taking them in a sportsmanlike 
way; nor are there one or two men on the whole continent 
qualified to do this work, and do it thoroughly. The coun- 
try is too vast, and the waters too widely scattered, for any 
one man to have become on intimate terms with all of our 
fishes, and to have been brought into these intimate relations 
by actual and personal experience with them. 

By mixing experience with the contents of text-books, a 
fair but superficial knowledge may be gathered together of 
the fishes of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf States and coasts; 
but it cannot be a complete record of the life and habits of 
the fishes such as would be acquired by a score of anglers, 
widely separated, each treating of one or two fishes that he 



12 V INTRODUCTION. 

has studied closely in all their relations, because they are his 
favorite fishes, and because such a study is necessary in order 
to be successful in their capture; for, be it understood, there 
are angling specialists, as well as other specialists. 

Mr. Shields seems to have realized this fact in the prepa- 
ration of his fine work, American Game Fishes, for in 
treating of a score and a half of our best fishes, and of the 
tools used in their capture, he has enlisted the co-operation 
of a score of the best writers upon the subject that are to be 
found in the land. They are men who are specialists as 
writers upon fishes, generally upon some particular fish, and 
their fame as such has spread wherever an interest is taken in 
angling or ichthyology. 

The most comprehensive paper yet written concerning that 
fish about which there have been so many conflicting opin- 
ions, the Land-locked Salmon, or Winanishe, or Onianiche, 
is the one prepared by Mr. J. G. Aylwin Creighton for this 
volume. Its history, its distribution, its habits, and its 
peculiarities are treated by a master hand. The author 
quotes to some extent what others have said of the fish, but 
his own conclusions, drawn from an extended personal expe- 
rience, are so clear and convincing that one accepts them un- 
hesitatingly as authoritative, and the statement in the text 
that "the Winanishe and the Land-locked Salmon of Maine 
are identical, the only observable difference being a slight one 
in coloration," will be received by his readers as final. Anglers 
will read with regret that "any one who wants to study the 
Land-locked Salmon of Lake St. John and the Saguenay will 
have to hasten, for the opening of the region to fish-markets 
and to tourists, by a railway, threatens their speedy extinction. " 

Mr. Charles Hallock is one who years and years ago crossed 
the border with rod in hand to study the Salmon in its native 
Canadian rivers, and as he is one of the pioneer American 
writers about this kingly fish, his paper very appropriately 
opens the book. . 



INTRODUCTION. 1 3 

Mr. F. H. Thurston's paper upon the fish favored of the 
gods — the Brook Trout — seems to sing an old, old song, with 
some new and delightful airs added, such as might be expected 
from so finished an angler and writer. He also tells us of 
the Grayling, another epicurean fish, which was only a short 
time ago apparently doomed to destruction, but which may 
once more become plentiful, as the woodsman and log-driver 
have done their worst in and about the streams where the 
"banner-bearer" makes its home, and must perforce permit 
them to return to something like their former solitude. 

It is enough to say that Dr. Henshall writes of the Black 
Bass; it would be like gilding refined gold to say how he writes 
about the fish he has legally adopted and considers as his own 
offspring. His paper on the Mascalonge will be read with equal 
interest, because this is a theme upon which he has not often 
been heard. It will be found, however, that he has as thor- 
oughly and carefully studied this fish as he has Micropterus. 

Mr. Mather has selected the White Perch as his theme, a 
fish that is overlooked by too many anglers in summing up the 
game fishes, and the author has sung its praises so well that 
many will be tempted to seek this delicious little pan fish. 

The Columbia River Salmon seems a far-away fish, and a 
fish in bad repute, because of the stories told of its ignoring 
the lure of silk and tinsel; but Mr. Perry brings the fish to our 
very doors, makes us better acquainted with it and increases 
our respect for it. He advises us that, though not aesthetic as 
is its Eastern cousin, it is equally robust and gamy, and that 
grand sport may be had in taking it on a trolling-spoon. 

The Lake Trout is a fish that has had scant justice done it 
in the past, as a game fish, by very many anglers, and Mr. 
Pardee's scholarly paper is but a proper tribute to a most 
excellent fish on the rod and on the table. Let the angler 
put away heavy tackle, and seek the Lake Trout with such rod 
and line as one would use in fishing for Black Bass of two 
pounds weight, and when he fastens to a "Laker" of ten or fif- 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

teen pounds, he will have a very good opinion of the Macki- 
naw Trout. This fish has not been so much in fault as the 
angler and his tackle. 

There is no better evidence that an angler is cosmopolitan 
in his fishing than to find such a confirmed Trout and Black 
Bass angler as Mr. Tomlin writing about the Pickerel; that 
this is not a fish after his own heart it is unnecessary to say, 
but he believes that justice should be meted out to all fish. 

The Tarpon was comparatively unknown as an angler's fish 
half a dozen years ago; but Mr. Haldeman, from his familiar- 
ity with his subject, must have cultivated the Tarpon assid- 
uously since it "came out." 

As Mr. Mosher has had to do with bringing into the world 
and distributing Pike Perch, as well as many other fishes, he 
is an oracle upon them, and speaks by the book. 

Mr. Harris has studied carefully the senses; of fishes, and 
it is not surprising that he should be able to tell so well 
what they are and how they are exercised in detecting the 
wiles and lures of the angler. 

There is a salty flavor about Mr. Endicott's chapter on 
Striped Bass, and it is generally supposed that it is the salt 
spray of the sea that has flecked his hair with white. When 
Mr. Shields was casting about for the man to write the best 
chapter that could be written about the "Salmon of the Surf," 
Mr. Endicott's name appeared to him something after the 
manner of the handwriting on the wall. I hope the ladies 
will read that portion of Mr. Endicott's chapter which tells 
of Miss Winans catching four Striped Bass weighing 177 
pounds, and then try to emulate the score. 

I presume every one that fishes with fine tackle has at 
least heard of the Kentucky reel, even if he does not possess 
one. Mr. Milam, who first made this reel, and who still 
makes them, for the first time gives, in this volume, the his- 
tory of the reel, as well as an essay on reels in general. 
This chapter will be read with the keenest interest, and it is 



INTRODUCTION. 1 5 

worth the price of the book. Fishing-tackle is also exhaust- 
ively treated, and the angler's camp outfit as well. 

I shall not attempt to particularize further, for it will be 
labor lost to tell how Mr. Shields writes of the Rocky Mount- 
ain Trout, that he has caught in most of the waters it inhab- 
its; or how Prof. George Brown Goode, Dr. David Starr 
Jordan, and the veteran, B. C. Clarke, write of fish with which 
their names are associated the world over. 

The book as a whole is unequaled in the history of ang- 
ling literature, for the detail with which the various subjects 
are treated and grouped together, and no other volume pre- 
sents to its readers so much valuable information by such a 
galaxy of star writers upon American Game Fishes. 

Then, in addition to all this feast of intellectual pabulum, 
there is presented to the eye a rare treat in the way of accu- 
rate, truthful portraits of all the fishes treated in the volume, 
and besides these, there are many scenes that recall to the 
memory of the angler delightful dreams of days on lake, surf, 
or river, that will be green in his memory while reason holds 
her sway. 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



THE SALMON. 



BY CHARLES HALLOCK. 



A CAREFUL review of the world's angling literature, 
from first to last, throughout its one thousand titles, 
more or less, in all texts and tongues, will be apt to 
beget the conviction that, after all that has been written, the 
gist of the subject was fairly covered by Dame Bernes, in 
her "Book of St. Albans," four centuries ago. Little in 
essence has been added which did not come within the scope 
of her speculative observation, whether it be technical, ethical, 
physical, metaphysical, logical, biological, or theological. If 
fish-lore has extended or developed since then in any direc- 
tion, it has been more in the line of scientific essay than in 
homily, poetry, or mechanics — more in respect to distribu- 
tion, nomenclature, and classifioation, than in the "disporte 
of fysshygne." It is quite probable that the Macedonians 
tossed the "hippurus" before the Christian era with the same 
^'delicacy and accuracy" which experts exhibit at modern fly- 
casting tournaments, and that angling, pure and simple, took 
high rank with the artistic expression of that remote but 
classic age. The lesson was thoroughly inculcated then; its 
application and improvement came subsequently. These took 
shape in Walton's time, and have gradually developed into 
the latter-day perfection of angling literature and art — the 
long interim having been singularly punctured by alternate 

2 17 



1 8 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

periods of impulse and inertness. The most notable intellec- 
tual revivals occurred about the years i486, 1590, 1676, 
1750, 1800, and 1850, during which many good angling booTcs 
were printed — not many of great specific worth, but all valu- 
able as chronological landmarks to indicate what fishes existed 
at specified times, what have been extirpated or scattered 
and disseminated by economic vicissitudes and incidents of 
settlement, what were chieliy in request for sport or food, 
and what devices and methods were in vogue for their cap- 
ture or protection. 

During the whole of this long lapse of four centuries, less 
visible advance was made than in the two last decades alone. 
Genius and energy were long dormant. The adept had not 
developed. The commonplace angler at first preferred to loll 
on the bank and bob with worms. But art improves as 
the passion grows. Gradually still-fishing developed into 
trolling; trolling into spinning; spinning into dapping; and 
dapping into fishing with the fly. Silk-worm gut is first men- 
tioned in books ("Saunder's Compleat Fisherman") in 1724, 
and two years later Salmon-fishing became a new experience 
in England. In 1746 the use of the artificial fly was intro- 
duced. It was a lost art restored. At that date the ancient 
hippiiriis emerges from its long obscurity, and behold! a mar- 
velous revelation in angling is at once unfolded. Pursuit and 
quest were thereby stimulated and accelerated; and by and by 
they became ennobled! 

Primitive ichthyology comprehended little more than a 
superficial knowledge of the habits and habitudes of a few 
fishes, and their general characteristics. Salmon and Trout 
were prominent among those which engaged early attention, 
for the Family SalmonidcB are among the oldest of post-ter- 
tiary fresh-water fish-forms, long antedating the glacial 
epoch; and of all its one hundred recognized species, the 
Salmon has held supremacy as chief from the beginning. 
Evolution of the ages seems not to have made him a braver, 



THE SALMON. 1 9 

or more comely, or more edible fish than he was in the days 
of Pliny and Oppian, both of whom tested his qualities and 
sung his praises away back in the second century, as well as 
others in the years before them. And his geographical range 
is as wide-spread as his fame. It extends around the entire 
Northern Hemisphere, from latitude 40 degrees up into the 
extreme Arctic region, belting the continents of Europe, 
Asia, and America, in all three of which it is indigenous and 
equally abundant. On the Pacific Ocean the belt dips down 
to the 30th parallel, and takes in the waters of Southern 
California on its eastern shore, and those of China and Japan 
on the west; but in all Atlantic waters the extreme southern 
limit is about 40 degrees. In Europe there is but one species 
(Sa/ar), but in America there are several. These are divided 
specifically, as well as geographically, into two characteristic 
classes, of which one is known as Salmo (the leaper), and 
the other as Oiicorliynchus (hook-nose). Of the latter there 
are five recognized species, which are enumerated as follows 
in Jordan & Gilbert's "Synopsis of Fishes" (1883): 

SPECIES. RANGE. 

Dog Salmon (O. kftu) Sacramento River to Bering Strait. 

H-am-ph7i.c]fi [O. go7-huscha) •' ' to Kotzebue Sound. 

S\\veT Salmon [O. kisi4tch) " " " >• 

}i\\ieha.ck [O. tterka) Columbia River " '• 

Quinnat {O. chonicha) Monterey to the Arctic Ocean. 

The Quinnat, or King Salmon, is the most comely and valu- 
able of the lot, and may justly be called the t5^picarrepresenta- 
tive of the OncorhyncJuis branch of the family. He is a much 
heavier fish than his congener of the Atlantic, and in the rivers 
of Western Alaska will average fifty pounds, individuals often 
running up to seventy and one hundred pounds in weight. 
His range is from Lower California up to Bach's Great Fish 
River, in the Arctic Ocean. Immense numbers ascend the 
large rivers of the Northern Pacific coast and Bering Sea in 
. spring and summer, moving up a thousand miles and more, as 
in the Yukon, and crowding the shorter rivers when the tide is 



20 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

at full flood, until every cubic foot of space is choked with 
fish, wedged tightly. In this helpless predicament they be- 
come an easy prey to bears and other animals, as well as 
men, and one can lift them out with his hands until he is 
tired. This rush continues until the spawning season is over, 
by which time most of those which have reached the distant 
upper waters perish from the combined exhaustion of the long 
journey and the labor of spawning. The passage of the river 
is a sickening spectacle; maimed and decaying fish in myriads 
offending sight and smell, and befouling the entire length of 
the water-courses from the sea to their sources. 

Of course under such conditions the problem of fly-fishing, 
or any kind of rod-fishing, requires no solution. At tide- 
water there is always good fishing with bait and spoon, and in 
California and Oregon and Puget Sound these methods are 
much in vogue. Fish-roe incased in a double thickness of 
mosquito-netting is the popular bait. There are exceptional 
rivers, notably the Clackamas, in Oregon, where fly-fishing 
may be practiced at certain favorable times in special locali- 
ties, the fluvial conditions being more like those of Atlantic 
rivers. The shorter the rivers, the greater the possibilities 
for sport. Fourteen Salmon are reported as having been 
taken from a Clackamas pool in one day by a single rod. 
The favorite fly is of a reddish cast, though black hackle, 
coachman, professor, red ibis, and a wine body with brown 
speckled wings, were all killing flies. June, July, and August 
were found to be the best months for fly-fishing. 

All of these Pacific Coast fishes have their several peculiari- 
ties very strongly developed. The snout in the adult males, in 
summer and fall, is greatly distorted; the premaxillaries are 
prolonged, hooking over the lower jaw, which in turn is 
greatly elongated and somewhat hooked at tip; the teeth on 
these bones are greatly enlarged. The body becomes deep 
and compressed, a fleshy lump is developed in front of the 
dorsal fin, and the scales of the back become imbedded in the 



THE SALMON. 2 1 

Hesh. The tlesh, which is red and rich in the spring, becomes 
dry and poor then. They are in no respect hke the shapely, 
symmetrical, clean, lithe, and beautiful fish which dominate 
the Atlantic streams. 

Typically, Salmo Quinnat (O. choiicha), is described by 
Jordan & Gilbert as follows: 

Color dusky above, often tinged with olivaceous or bluish; 
sides and below silvery; head dark slaty, usually darker than 
the body, and little spotted; back dorsal fin and tail usually 
profusely covered with round black spots — these are some- 
times few, but very rarely altogether wanting; sides of head 
and caudal fin with a peculiar metallic tin-colored luster; 
male, about the spawning season (October), blackish, more 
or less tinged or blotched with dull red; head conic, rather 
pointed in the females and spring males. Maxillary rather 
slender, the small eye behind its middle. Teeth small, larger 
on sides of lower jaw than in front; vomerine teeth very few 
and weak, disappearing in the males. In the males, in late 
summer and fall, the jaws become elongated and distorted, and 
the anterior teeth much enlarged, as in the related species. 
The body then becomes deeper, more compressed, and arched 
at the shoulders, and the color nearly black. Preopercle and 
opercle strongly convex. Body comparatively robust, its depth 
greatest near its middle. Ventials inserted behind middle of 
dorsal, vential appendage half the length of the fin; caudal — 
unusual in this genus — strongly forked on a rather slender caudal 
peduncle. Flesh red and rich in spring, becoming paler in 
the fall as the spawning season approaches. Head 4; depth 4. 
B. 15-16 to i8-ig, the number on the two sides always unlike; 
D. 11; A. 16. Gill-rakers usually 9x14 — /. c, g above the angle 
and 14 below. Pyloric coeca 140-185. Scales usually 27-146- 
2g, the number in a longitudinal series varying from 140-155, 
and in California specimens as low as 135. 

Very different is the Atlantic Salmon (.S". salar Linnaeus) 
to the scientific eye, when compared with the foregoing, and 
described by Jordan & Gilbert, to-wit: 

Body moderately elongate, symmetrical, not generally 
compressed. Head rather low. Mouth moderate, the maxil- 
lary reaching just past the eye; its length 2)2-3 ^^ head; in 
young specimens the maxillary is proportionately shorter. 
Preoperculum with a distinct lower limb, the angle rounded. 



22 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Scales comparative^ large, rather largest posteriorly, silvery, 
and well-imbricated in the young, becoming imbedded in adult 
males. Coloration in the adult brownish above, the sides more 
or less silver}^, with numerous black spots on sides of head, 
on body and on fins, and red patches along the sides in the 
males; young specimens (parrs) with about eleven dusky 
cross-bars, besides black spots and red patches, the color, as 
well as the form of the head and body, varying much with 
age, food, and condition; the black spots in the adult often 
x-shaped, or xx-shaped. Head 4; depth 4; Br. 11; D. 11; 
A. 9; scales 23-120-21; vertebrae 60; pyloric coeca about 
65. Weight 15-40 pounds. North Atlantic, ascending all 
suitable rivers, and the region north of Cape Cod; some- 
times permanently land-locked in lakes, where its habits and 
coloration (but no tangible specific characters) change some- 
what, when it becomes, in America, var. Scbago. 

The natural southern limit of the Atlantic Salmon, within 
historical time, was unquestionably the Hudson River. It 
was so when Hendrik Hudson discovered it, but subsequent 
geological changes must have occurred in its upper tributa- 
ries to bar the passage to suitable spawning-grounds. Its 
extreme northern limit has not been traced, but it has been 
found in a dozen of the rivers which empty into the Arctic 
Ocean, and its range from the Atlantic to the Pacific has 
been fully established. It is abundant along the entire Lab- 
rador coast, and up around Cape Chidley, its extreme north- 
ern mount, in about latitude 62 degrees, and thence around the 
Koksok, Georges River, Whale River, and other rivers of the 
great Ungava Bay, on the north coast of Labrador, and 
thence to the western entrance of Hudson Strait, seems to be 
its limit in that direction. 

The Arctic habitat of the Pacific Salmon begins about 
Wager Inlet, and the Melville Peninsula, and continues west- 
ward indefinitely. Between the Hudson Strait and Wager 
Inlet, the great Hudson Bay is projected southward in one 
tremendous indentation, and in its waters no Salmon are 
found — only Sea Trout. The Bay separates the family of 
Salar from the family OncorJiYucJuis, of which CJionicJia is 



THE SALMON. 



2:^ 




»*V'*r'^iSifisi 



24 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



chief. Some of the Arctic rivers, like the Mackenzie, are 
barren of Salmon, as is true also of some Atlantic coast rivers. 
Doubtless there are abundant physical reasons to account for 
this as well as for the big break in the range of the Salmon 
made by the interposition of the great Hudson Bay; and when 
these are ascertained, scientists may be able to discover why 
the fish to the eastward of the Bay are of one species (Sa/ar), 
and those to the westward of another {CJionicJia). 

In the physiology of the animal kingdom, naturalists have 
discovered that the quality of adaptation to environment 
plays an important part in bringing about and establishing 
those variations from original forms, which are called spe- 
cies. Constancy of a primitive type depends upon the con- 
stancy of external conditions. Now, it was long ago discov- 
ered that not only can many species of fish gradually accom- 
modate themselves to either salt or fresh water, but some 
seem quite indifferent to rapid changes from one to the other. 
On this basis scientists are readily able to account for that 
fresh-water variety of Atlantic Salmon known as S. Salar 
var. Sebago, which in all respects, except the habit of 
anadromy, it so nearly resembles. So closely, indeed, are 
the generic traits maintained, that even the food materials of 
both the salt and fresh water species are analogous, one sub- 
sisting on caplins, and the other on its related species, the 
smelts, while the geographical ranges of the two are co-ex- 
tensive and conterminous. Both the Atlantic and Pacific 
varieties are represented by fresh-water analogues: for the 
Land-locked Salmon are not only distributed throughout Que- 
bec, Ontario, and the maritime provinces of Canada, as well 
as Maine, but they occur in the lakes of British Columbia 
and Idaho, and in tributary lakes of Lake Superior, where they 
"are called Red Trout by the natives, and grow to the size of 
forty pounds, and are not to be confounded with the com- 
mon Lake Trout (5. Namaycush), whose f^esh is white.'* 
(L. H. Smith, of Strathroy, Canada, in London Field.) 



THE SALMON. 2$ 

The Wananishe of the Upper Saguenay River, which were 
long beheved to keep exclusively to fresh water, although 
they had direct access to the sea, have recently been ascer- 
tained to be simply a distinct class of the Sea Salmon, peculiar 
to its own waters, like all the others, and of precisely the 
same habits and idiosyncrasies; only the peculiar conforma- 
tion of the Saguenay region and the extreme depth of the 
river have hitherto prevented such practical observations as 
were essential to establish the facts. In places the Saguenay 
is one thousand feet deep, with an extreme average depth for 
sixty miles from its mouth, and the Wananishe {j.va-na-nish, 
in the Indian vernacular) are not seen until they reach the 
riffs of the chute, or Grande Discharge, which constitutes the 
outlet of Lake St. John. Like other Salmon enjoying the 
same fluvial condition, they spawn in the tributaries of the 
lake (in nearly all of which they occur), and pass the winters 
in the lake itself, where they subsist chiefly upon a species 
of Whitefish {Corcgoniis) called Wutouche, which is replaced 
by caplin, smelt, or other sub-species of SalinojiidcB in waters 
elsewhere. They have a xx marking on their bodies, instead 
of the usual round spots; but there are Salmon in some of the 
other Laurentian rivers marked in precisely the same way. 

Contrary to early notions, which made these land-locked 
fish an off-shoot of the Sea Salmon, naturalists now agree 
that the original habitat of the entire family Sabnonidcs 
was in fresh water, and that it is the Sea Salmon which has 
become erratic — the disturbances of the glacial period having 
driven them out of their primitive inland possessions. But 
in obedience to the law of evolution which requires posterity 
to pass through the same biological changes as their progeni- 
tors did, all Salmon must be born and live for a time at least 
in fresh water; hence we find our Sea Salmon coming into 
the rivers and spending a large proportion of their time in 
fresh water, seeking there a change of diet and hygienic 
treatment against parasites and fungus. The spawning sea- 



26 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

son of the Salmon is in autumn, and when they have fulfilled 
the requirements of nature they remain in the rivers for a 
greater or less period, according to the time of their arrival 
and impregnation, and drop back to the sea again in spring. 
Usually there is a spring run of Salmon which follow the 
sand-worms and herring-sile, and other shore food, into the 
estuaries and up into the rivers, often remaining until the 
water runs low and becomes too warm for comfort, when 
they drop back to the sea again. Later on come the Grilse, 
or Adolescent Salmon, some of them already in full sexual 
maturity, and after them the mid-summer and autumn runs 
of old fish. 

The bulk of the Salmon run up in autumn for spawning 
purposes, only the earlier runs being for change of water and 
diet, and for sanitary purposes, as has already been stated. 
A flood or a "spate" always starts the fish up-stream, and 
then the fish take the fly or bait best. A great deal of bosh 
has been written in all the books of the Salmon, for four cent- 
uries past, about Salmon not eating, when ascending to 
their spawning-grounds, but that theory is now wholly ex- 
ploded. They not only eat, but eat promiscuously and vora- 
ciously of a great variety of food, including young SabnoiiidcE 
and other salt and fresh water fish-fry, shrimps, prawns, sand- 
worms, crustaceans, cephalopods, and floating invertebrata. 
Another impression is, or was, that Salmon could only be 
taken with fly, whereas they readily take natural minnows, 
prawns, worms, artificial minnows, spoons, and a dozen other 
* kinds of bait, as has been abundantly tested and proven. 
Indeed, it would not be difficult to demonstrate that fly- 
fishing is the recent revival of an antique art, and that baits 
only were at one time used by anglers of low degree. Hence 
their use becoming unpopular, the impression finally obtained 
that flies only would tempt a fish. Some of these baits, it 
may be observed, have been found to take best in spring, 
others in mid-summer, and others still in autumn. Some 



THE SALMON. 2/ 

take best when the water is clear, and others when it is 
roiled and discolored; some when the water is thin and low, 
and others on the surge of a mighty flood. There are no 
conditions or stages, it would seem, when the Salmon will 
not accept one or more of the above-named baits at some 
time or other in the course of twenty-four hours, as observers 
have ascertained. It is remarkable that this question should 
have remained open for so many centuries, and that none of 
the books have set the matter right. 

Directly in this connection it may be mentioned that the 
annelids, or sand-worms, play an important part in influenc- 
ing the spring movements of Salmon. At that season they 
swarm in from the ocean to breed on the beach flats, either 
swimming free like eels, in great masses, or housed in their 
burrows. Indeed they constitute a most important element 
in the economy of many kinds of fish not only of nomadic 
and littoral species, but of those which constantly root for 
them in their beds, like the Tautog, Haddock, etc. It is 
manifest that the pulpy bodies of these worms, as well as 
of much other delicate food which Salmon eat in the early 
spring, dissolve in their stomachs like glucose or starch. It 
is digested almost as soon as swallowed, and in the absence 
of visible sustenance superficial observers have decided that 
they did not eat at all. 

As regards the spring run of Salmon, it would be impossible 
for them to sustain life for the five months intervening until 
autumn spawning season unless they fed, while in respect to 
the late autumn runs they but follow the instinct of all pre"-- 
nant creatures on the eve of parturition, eating a little here 
and a little there, fastidious, whimsical, ravenous, and indis- 
posed by turns. It would be inexplicable indeed if Salmon 
alone, of all creatures, were not required by nature to fortify 
and strengthen themselves for the supremest act of physical 
existence. Physiology will easily explain why the distended 
ovaries, pressing upon the stomach and intestines, will not 



28 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

permit the introduction of food, except in very limited quanti- 
ties, and Dr. Pancritius, of Germany, has very intelHgently 
described the chemistry of digestion in fishes: so that these 
subjects are problems no more. 

Possibly one reason why there has been such a wide diverg- 
ence of opinion about the life-history of the Salmon is, that 
there is nothing constant about them, except their periodical 
visits to the sea and river, and these vary, not only with cli- 
matic conditions, and the extreme diversity in the length of 
rivers, but they are always liable to be disturbed by extrane- 
ous contributory causes, such as sudden meterological changes, 
erratic movements of the small fish and fry on which they 
chiefly feed, raids of porpoises and seals, which split the 
schools up into fragments, or drive the whole body off tempo- 
rarily. In the Arctic rivers there is only a mid-summer run 
of Salmon. There is no autumn run, for the rivers are 
frozen tight by the end of September. In many Laurentian 
rivers there are a spring, summer, and autumn run. because 
the rivers are kept in full supply of cold water from the reser- 
voirs of melting snow at their sources. In rivers of extreme 
length, like the Columbia, Yukon, and others of the Pacific 
coast, the spring run of Salmon does not go back to the sea, for 
obvious reasons. If the fish have five hundred miles or more 
to ascend, they cannot afford to lose time by running in and 
out. High falls especially retard their progress. To sur- 
mount these they are obliged to climb their rugged abutments, 
which are full of pockets and crevices and projections, over 
which the lateral overflow is constantly spilling in greater or 
less quantity; and it is not altogether an impossible feat for 
a Salmon to mount a very high fall by these gradual steps, 
stopping betimes to rest his muscles and moisten his gills ia 
the little basins which present themselves conveniently at 
hand. But they will not essay this side-passage until they 
have persistently attempted to leap the breast of the fall; 
hence, some careless observers have maintained against all 



THE SALMON. 29 

reason, common sense, and mathematical demonstration, 
that Salmon leap falls sixteen feet high and upwards! How- 
ever, up the fish must go, impelled irresistibly by the instinct 
of procreation, which demands that they shall reach the upper 
waters. The time of spawning often varies in the same 
river, and is determined by the period at which impregna- 
tion has taken place. A portion of the run, therefore, being 
riper than the rest, spawn sooner, and, having fulfilled their 
mission, return at once to the sea, while their less fortunate 
belated kindred must continue their pilgrimage, perchance to 
headwaters; for so long as their great work remains unac- 
complished, they will press on until stopped by insurmount- 
able obstacles. Gravid fish must halt in whatever part of the 
river the crisis overtakes them. Such as are obliged to con- 
tinue on to the upper spawning-beds arrive in sorry plight, 
mutilated, crushed, and almost shapeless. Fortunate are 
those which have vitality enough left to be able to return to 
the sea. Indeed, so great is the mortality, that it has been 
generally believed that they never return at all. 

Speckled Trout are found in almost all eastern Salmon 
streams, and the angler who chances to try his luck in them 
will often pick out of the riffs fish of varying size which he 
looks at twice, being in doubt of their identity. Some of 
them are half-pound fish, with a row of six intense carmine 
spots on each side, and others are but finger-long, flanked with 
five dusky vertical bars. He thinks they are a new kind of 
trout, but they are really adolescent and baby Salmon, called 
Smolts and Parr. When the Smolt goes to sea, as he does 
his second year, he will gain a pound a month in the salt 
water, and after a luxurious absence will return to his birth- 
place in the blue and silver livery of a Grilse, and very much 
like an adult in appearance. As a Grilse he tarries in the 
upper pools till spring, and again returns to the sea a full- 
grown Salmon, grows fat and ponderous, and again ascends 
as a breeding fish of thirty to fifty pounds in weight. There 



30 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



is no doubt of this wonderful growth. Marked fish have 
been known to treble their weight in a twelve-month. 

Late spawning fish generally drop down the river with the 
"June rise" in a most emaciated and ravenous condition, and 
are often picked up by the angler, greatly to his disgust, for 
their stomachs have shrunk entirely away, their skin hangs 
in flabby folds, their scales have all sloughed off, and they 
seem to be nothing but back, head, and tail. Such objects 
are called "Kelts," and they play havoc with everything that 
has fins, destroying great quantities of small Salmon in their 
ravenous raids for food. 

Very different is the first-run Salmon, just from the sea, 
with his plump and shapely form, broad shoulders, and glisten- 
ing armature of blue and silver scales, leaping for joy at his 
escape from the dangers of the passage, and dallying with 
the pleasures and incidents of the way. To catch one of 
these magnificent fish, to have him on your line, for an hour 
at a time, to be intimate with him, as it were, is an experi- 
ence which no one can appreciate who has not been through 
the ordeal: for an ordeal it is, of the most trying sort. In 
his "Pleasures of Angling," Mr. George Dawson describes his 
sensations on capturing his first Salmon, in a most realistic 
way. It seems he had raised his fish once, and looked him 
full in the face, as one glares at a ghost, as he came to the 
surface with great cavernous mouth wide open, and eyes 
which bulged far out into the air; and he had gone through 
all the feelings of faintness peculiar to similar occasions, with 
nerve twinges, electrical thrills, etc., when, having pulled 
himself together, he had a second rise. "I had marked the 
spot," he says, "where the fish had risen, had gathered up my 
line for another cast, had dropped the fly, like a snow-flake, 
just where I desired it to rest, when, like a flash, the same 
enormous head appeared, the same open jaws revealed them- 
selves, a swirl and a leap and a strike followed, and my first 
Salmon was hooked with a thud! which told me, as plainly 



THE SALMON. 3 1 

as if the operation had transpired within the range of my vis- 
ion, that if I lost him it would be my own fault. When thus 
assured, there was excitement, but no flurry. My nerves 
thrilled and every muscle assumed the tension of well-tem- 
pered steel, but I realized the full sublimity of the occasion, 
and a sort of majestic calmness took the place of the stupid 
inaction which followed the first apparition. My untested 
rod bent under the pressure in a graceful curve; my reel 
clicked out a livelier melody than ever emanated from harp 
or hautboy, as the astonished fish made his first dash; the 
tensioned line emitted ^olian music as it stretched and stif- 
fened under the strain to which it was subjected; and for fifty 
minutes there was such giving and taking, such sulking and 
rushing, such leaping and tearing, such hoping and fearing, as 
would have 'injected life into the ribs of death,' made an 
anchorite dance in very ecstasy, and caused any true angler 
to believe that his heart was a kettle-drum, every sinew a 
Jew's-harp, and the whole frame-work of his excited nerves a 
full band of music. And during all this time my canoe-man 
rendered efficient service in keeping even pace with the 
eccentric movements of the struggling fish. 'Hold him head 
up, if possible,' was the counsel given me, and 'make him 
work for every inch of line. ' Whether, therefore, he took 
fifty yards or a foot, I tried to make him pull for it, and then 
to regain whatever was taken as soon as possible. The 
result was an incessant clicking of the reel, either in paying 
out or in taking in, with an occasional flurry and leap which 
could have been no more prevented than the on-rushing of 
a locomotive. Any attempt to have suddenly checked him 
by making adequate resistance would have made leader, line, 
or rod a wTeck in an instant. All that it was proper or safe 
to do was to give each just the amount of strain and press- 
ure it could bear with safety — not an ounce more nor an 
ounce less — and I believe that I measured the pressure so 
exactly that the strain upon my rod did not vary half an 



32 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ounce from the first to the last of the struggle. Toward the 
close of the fight, when it was evident that the 'jig was up, ' 
and I felt myself master of the situation, I took my stand 
upon a projecting point in the river, where the water was 
shallow and where the most favorable opportunity possible 
was afforded the gaffer to give the struggling fish the final 
death-thrust, and so end the battle. It was skillfully done. 
The first plunge of the gaff brought him to the greensward, 
and there lay out before me, in all his silver beauty and 
magnificent proportions, my first Salmon. He weighed 
thirty pounds, plump, measured nearly four feet in length, 
was killed in fifty minutes. It is said that when the good 
old Dr. Bethune landed Jiis first Salmon, 'he caressed it as 
fondly as he ever caressed his first-born. ' I could only stand 
over mine in speechless admiration and delight — panting 
with fatigue, trembling in very ecstasy. 

"This victory was a surfeit for the morning. With other 
fish in full view, ready to give me a repetition of the grand 
sport I had already experienced, I made no other cast, and 
retired perfectly contented. The beautiful fish was laid down 
lovingly in the bottom of the canoe, and borne in triumph to 
the camp, where fish and fisher were given such a hearty 
welcome amid such hilarious enthusiasm as was befitting 'the 
cause and the occasion. ' " 

In America there is no winter Salmon fishing, as there is in 
some rivers in Scotland, for our Atlantic streams are ?.ll 
closed by ice. Once in a while, however, some tough old 
angler who has become inured to the vicissitudes of weather 
and hard knocks in general, and who "knows the ropes," will 
venture down to the Port Midway and other rivers of Nova 
Scotia in February, and capture some fine Salmon while the 
ice is running. The game, however, is hardly worth the 
candle. Most professional anglers make it a point to be on 
the Bay Chaleur streams by the first of June, and on the 
Lower St. Lawrence River about three weeks later. The 



THE SALMON. 33 

Land-locked Salmon waters are open in Maine and Canada 
about the middle of May, and there is good fishing for Wana- 
nishe in most of the numerous tributaries of Lake St. John, 
Province of Quebec, about the same time. A month later 
the fish are plenty on the riffs of the Grande Discharge, or 
outlet of the lake; for which I would advise the use of light 
Salmon tackle, such as professional Salmon anglers keep for a 
•second outfit, as also for the Land-locked Salmon of Sebago, 
Toed's Pond, and other waters, which are apt to run up into 
the twenty-pound weights. For Salmon fishing, pure and 
simple — the old-fashioned Salmon fishing, where the rod has 
to stand atestful racket — I would choose a sixteen to eighteen 
foot rod. The advantages of length are obvious to any one 
of experience on the heavier Canadian streams, and one need 
not be talked out of his common sense by the current hue 
and cry about light rods. The man who talks "light rod" 
has never fished where heavy rods are needed, and is not com- 
petent to coach. He does not comprehend the first princi- 
ples of the situation. A wooden rod is apt to be heavier 
than a split bamboo in proportion to its length; but all else 
being equal, the life of a wooden rod is the longest. Any 
rod whatever which is too heavy to wield without the ail 
of a waistband and thimble, should be discarded. These 
long, heavy rods are in request for heroic work in wicked 
waters, when the wind is stiff, and the fishing may be called 
taxing. Second rods are better adapted for switching where 
casting room is restricted, and for use in calm days and quiet 
pools. Whenever one can use this lighter rod, the climax of 
pleasure is reached. The reel should be heavy enough to 
balance the rod, made of nickel and rubber, with crank 
enclosed by a flange, so as not to catch the line, and the line 
should be as light as one can possibly make good casting 
with. One hundred yards of oiled silk are enough, unless 
your fish flops into a rapid, when you will want a thousand. 
A bulky line shows in the water; a line that is light for its 
3 



34 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



bulk is of small use in casting against a wind, and one that 
is hard and stiff is too long in running straight out into the 
water. A correct line is as essential as a correct rod. Let 
it be perfectly pliable, and yet have enough substance in it 
to make it feel quite solid. As to selection of flies, the most 
killing for mid-season are the Josh Scott, Silver Doctor, and 
Turkey Wing — the brightest later on. These are chief among 
six patterns selected by a composite jury of all the best anglers 
of Great Britain. Yellow Mohair and Golden Pheasant are 
the best for early rivers. In the evening, when the light goes 
off the water, large flies and brighter colors can be used with 
effect. A silver body does well, and jungle-cock feather 
shows up finely. As to size of flies, one universal proverb 
will always stand: Large flies for heavy and deep water; 
larger flies for waters which run rapid and rough than for 
those which run shallow and quiet; large flies for evening 
fishing, and large flies for early spring fishing. In these 
later years I have learned to use double snoods. Upon the 
whole, I find Salmon less capricious than Trout. The truth 
is on a booming river, or when the Salmon are in a taking 
mood, they are not particular as to the kind of fly they take. 
There is a good deal of fresco work in the talk about killing- 
flies and favorites. Pedantry will often count for more than 
common sense, but it does not carry as far. 

Fish rise best the moment when the river begins to come 
out. In some cases they will rise until the water becomes so 
dirty that they cannot see, but in general the spurt will not 
last over an hour. This, however, is not the time to fish. 
No use to waste time when the fish are turning flip-flaps all 
over the stream. Once, on a moonlight night, they made 
such a constant commotion in the river that I could not sleep; 
what a night that was! Not a cloud or a whiff of wind. The 
river was alive with them. The best time to fish is the moment 
when the fish become quiet and begin to choose their resting- 
places, and the river runs clear enough for them to see the fly. 



THE SALMON. 



35 



In a colored river, the shallowest parts should be fished, be- 
cause the fish can see better there than in deep water. An 
old angler, ifi one of the English sporting papers, observes 
that "many young anglers raise a great many fish and fail to 
hook them. Even some long-experienced anglers get into 
this habit, and never get out of it. The reason of this is, 
they cast too straight across the stream, and keep the point 
of their rod too high. The fly travels round too fast, and 
the fish make a dash at it and fail to catch it. The fly 
should go straight out, the cast should be made well down 
the river, the point of the rod kept nearly touching the 
water, and the fly allowed to sink well down. The rod 
should be worked slowly when the fly has nearly come over 
the cast." 

This is the correct talk when feeling for a fish: keep the 
point of the rod dozun, but when a fish is on, keep it up. 
I am glad to quote here what Mr. E. M. Tod, an angler of 
world-wide reputation, has to say in the London FisJiina- 
Gazette, by way of instruction as to how to handle a Salmon 
when hooked. He says: 

"First of all, hold your rod pointing upward, so as to bring 
the spring of it to bear with all its power on the fish; then 
'hang on' to the fish, and do not let him have any more 
line than you can possibly help, as the less line there is 
between you and the fish, the better for you, and the worse 
for your quarry, as if there is much line out it may get foul of 
some obstacle, and the force of the current will put a heavy 
strain on. If the fish is determined to run, he will take 
line, and, should he take to somersaulting at each jump, the 
line must be quite loose, and the rod's point dipped; but in 
any other case it is best not to give a foot of line, provided 
the rod be kept upward, as no rod (or at any rate no ordi- 
nary rod) can put on more strain than three or four pounds; 
so there is little or no danger of a break. In this manner 
many a little fish of not more than six or seven pounds weight 



36 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

may be speedily killed without allowing a great deal of water 
to be disturbed, and by keeping such a tight line fish may be 
landed into which the hook has not gone over the barb, 
whereas if they had not been held in tight, the hook would 
have dropped out. I need scarcely say that a fish, if small, 
must be kept; if large, coaxed away from any obstacle. 
Should he go to the bottom like a log, as large ones some- 
times do, get bclozv him if possible, and pull hard at him. If 
this does not start him, pelt him with stones. This will 
generally succeed, but sometimes more severe measures have 
to be taken, as on the Usk, last season. A Salmon weighing 
forty-two pounds, on being hooked, sank to the bottom, and 
was only moved by a gallant colonel, who was present, strip- 
ping and swimming in after it." 

Speaking of this habit of sulking, here is what Parker Gil- 
more ("Ubique") has to say about it. I had rather quote 
these two old worthies than to quote myself. He says: 

"Obtain the smallest hollow bangle procurable, having a 
hinge at the back, and closing with a snap on the opposite 
side. Have its inner surface perforated with numerous 
holes, the outer surface with a few only, each to be about 
the size of a No. i shot. Partly fill the interior of the bangle 
with snuff or cayenne pepper. 

"Suppose, now, that the angler is fast in a fish which has 
sulked. Place the bangle above the reel, around the rod and 
line, pass it up till it goes over the tip of the top joint, when, 
by raising the rod, and placing the strain on the line, the 
bangle will at once descend to the hook. The action of the 
water upon the snuff or pepper will be more than the delicate 
mouth and nose of the Salmon can stand, so of^ he will go 
for other haunts. Stop the Salmon dare not now, for, when- 
ever he stops, the pungent stuff makes itself felt. In fact, 
the only possible relief to be obtained is by going, and go he 
will, with the velocity of a greyhound with a kettle attached 
to his tail." 



THE SALMON. 3/ 

Verily, this is a wholesome way to hustle a Salmon that 
sulks! It holds over any scheme that I ever struck on this 
side of the Atlantic. But Parker Gilmore has been over a 
great deal — perhaps he happened on it here. This is all very 
well to start the tish, but the trouble would be to stop him. 
This hint about holding the rod up reminds me that a differ- 
ent practice is required for river Salmon than for land-locked 
fish. I am convinced that anglers who have tried for the 
latter without success have habitually cast too long a line. 
Following the approved mode in rapid-stream fishing and 
broken water, they have laid their lines straight out, and 
kept the point of the rod nearly touching the water. This is 
wrong. On dead water a short line is requisite; the rod 
should be kept almost perpendicular, so that the fly can trail 
on the very top surface; and the cast should be made straight 
out in front. Not more than six feet of the gut-length 
should touch the water at any time. Why.^ Because the 
water is so still, even when rippled by a flaw of wind, that 
the line laying its length along the water looks like a cable. 
The fish are so busy investigating the phenomenon of the 
line that they don't mind the fly. Perhaps they don't see it 
at all. To attract his attention the point of the rod should 
be pumped up and down. This will move the fly a foot or 
more at each motion. Sometimes it is well to draw the line 
through the rings with the left hand while working the point 
of the rod, which answers the like purpose. The whole pro- 
cess is exceedingly delicate. Experienced anglers will appre- 
ciate the difficulty of fastening to a rise with an almost per- 
pendicular rod, while the liability of breaking the tip, in case 
of a strike, is very great. The only way is )wt to strike when 
a Salmon rises, but to let him pull the point of the rod down 
three or four feet, and then fix the hook in his jaw by a 
gentle lifting of the rod so as to bring the line taut. There is 
no method of fishing prettier than this, when one gets used 
to it. It beats skittering wqth a spoon all hollow. 



38 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

It is obvious that this mode appHes to tidal waters and still 
pools in rivers as well. It is much in vogue in Scottish lochs 
(lakes), and is just as suitable in our own. Small flies are 
the best, of course, and should never exceed one inch in 
length. I have patterns of Land-locked Salmon flies — with 
yellow bodies, turkey wings, and claret body with mallard 
wings — which I have always used with success wherever tried. 

Trolling for Land-locked Salmon with live smelts, or phan- 
toms, is a successful method in Weld and Sebago, and as a 
dernier resort, a buoy may be baited with chopped fish. Set 
the buoy in thirty to forty feet of water, and fish with the 
same bait as you chummed with, or with live minnows, and 
use just sinker enough to carry the line to the bottom. 
When a fish is felt, let him have a pull at the hook, and then 
raise the rod-tip gently and firmly. This will generally fasten 
him, and the subsequent proceedings will be interesting. 

The number of expert Salmon anglers in this or any other 
country is small, possibly because their experience is often 
confined to a single river, or to rivers of the same temper. 

Rivers are as different as horses. Some are wild, im- 
petuous, and untamable; others restive as an Arabian courser. 
Some plod like a plow-horse, and others buck like a 
broncho or kick like a mule. Some dash to the sea in a 
straight-away course, with scarcely a break, and others 
wind with a sinuous and solemn monotony, like blind cobs 
in a tread-mill. Some are like circus horses, cavorting in 
many an eddy, and flying leap, and others tumble and plunge 
like colts at the hurdles. Some have breadth, and depth, 
and sweep, while others are pent-up, curbed, and narrow, 
churned into constant lather and foam. In some rivers the 
pools are frequent and spacious, open to the sunlight, and 
glinting with bright, pebbly bottoms; in others they are 
short, angry, and broken, filled with debris and bowlders. 
Some are overhung by protruding branches and thickets, while 
others flow under the gloomy shadows of jutting cliffs. There 



THE SALMON. 39 

is no end to the composition and phases of rivers, and, con- 
sequently, no end to the artifices and methods of the angler. 
It is this complexity which makes the study and practice of 
Salmon angling a superlative art, and of all piscatorial accom- 
plishments the most difficult to learn and master. As in 
human nature, it is difficult to diagnose or interpret one face, 
type, or character by another, so it is equally difficult to 
predicate the disposition of one river by the idiosyncrasies of 
another. 

The methods of a hooked Salmon in a quiet pool of a 
placid river are so simple and so uniform, that the angler goes 
through the process of subduing his fish and bringing him to 
gaff, in about the same perfunctory way that Gleason or Rarey 
would quiet a horse that was skittish, but not vicious. The 
ambitious novice can learn them as easily as he can the 
fundamental rules in arithmetic. In what the Scotchmen 
call a "wicked" river, the task is more delicate and exact- 
ing, requiring much strategic ability, as well as physical 
endurance. There is a great deal of personal risk, too, 
where often a false step or a stumble when w^ading might 
■cost the angler his life, by pitching him into a rapid as tumult- 
uous as that of Niagara. On such a river one can never 
count on killing his fish until he has him on the bank, stiff. 

Such rivers try the angler's mettle as well as his science. 
Tactics of the drill-master fail here. Instinct becomes a 
better prompter than a "rule of three." Expedients are 
suggested by emergencies, both to the Salmon and his 
captor, in marvelously rapid succession. The hooked 
fish, after his momentary fright on getting fast, collects 
his senses, and like the chased deer and fox, devises 
stratagems on the jump. You have no time to dally. Play- 
ing your fish becomes a desperate struggle, like a Spartan 
bout. 

You must kill your fish on short line with rod bent double, 
or have him break away. You must drop your rod-tip when 



40 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

he vaults clear of the water, and "slue" him off from danger- 
ous places when he gathers headway. You summon the 
forces of the current to your aid in accelerating a favorable 
momentum, and you counteract them when the influence is 
adverse. If the Salmon once gets out of the pool into the 
raceway of the impetuous lower stream, there is nothing to do 
but follow him down the bank and over the slippery rocks, 
into the water and out of the water, shoe-deep or waist-deep, 
lifting your line over obstructing bowlders in the channel, 
watching out for projecting ledges or branches of trees, keep- 
ing your weather-eye always on the fish and looking ahead 
for the best footing, holding your rod up and never allowing 
slack, even though you stumble full length over the rocks; 
not minding thumps or bruises, but keeping your wind and 
saving your fish, no matter if you break your neck. And you 
keep this up an hour, perhaps, giving as little line as possi- 
ble, until finally you are so limp and blown that you couldn't 
puff out a candle with your breath, and in bodily condition 
much like the Salmon, your opponent, which by this time 
has haply turned up his silvery side at the foot of the rapid, 
convenient for the clip of your exultant and admiring gaffer. 
Your attendant is an almost indispensable factor. He 
must be mentor as well as assistant. In fact, he ought to be 
as intelligent and experienced as his master. He is not there 
merely to basket the fish and tote them. He should have 
sense when to advise his companion, and when to refrain; 
and above all things he should be cool and self-possessed. 
He is able to perceive from lateral points of observation what 
the man with the rod cannot see, and thus often to anticipate 
the intentions of the fish, and head them off. He is to clear 
away bushes which interpose, and rocks which impede the 
passage along the bank; he is to take the rod betimes into his 
own hands while the angler gains a better foothold or more 
advantageous position, to steady him by the shoulders in diffi- 
cult places, to help him by the hand and steer him, as a 



THE SALMON. 4 1 

policeman guides a lady or a cripple through the intricacies 
of a thronging thoroughfare; and worse than an idiot would 
be the bumptious dolt who would spurn this timely counsel. 

Furthermore: The gaffer should select the landing-place 
in advance, if the fish is to be gaffed from the shore, as is 
usually done, even when fishing from a boat, and wade well 
out, say to the depth of his knees, so that by any chance the 
fish may not flounder loose by striking the bottom in too 
shallow water. Then the man with the rod should lead his 
captive, as best he may, up to the gaffer, so that he can 
strike it. Never be in a hurry; a slip of the foot on the river 
bottom may cost another hour's hard work with the rod. 
Put the gaff into the water as quietly as possible, and unob- 
served of the fish, to the depth of fourteen inches or so, 
and make the clip upward and inward, endeavoring to fix the 
point abaft the shoulders, which is the center of gravity. If 
hooked elsewhere, the fish gets a big leverage with head or 
tail, and will make a ghastly rent in his body, if indeed he 
does not flop off the hook altogether. Never strike a fish in 
the belly. There is nothing more unsightly than a great gap- 
ing wound, especially if the entrails protrude. A gaff should 
not have its point reversed, or turned inward, as we find 
them at most of the tackle-shops. The point should be 
parallel with the shank, so that the line of draft at the point 
may be parallel with the line of draft on the shank and gaff 
handle. The hook need not exceed two and a half inches in 
the width of the bend between shank and point. A four-foot 
handle is the correct length. Jointed handles are convenient 
to carry, but are objectionable on account of a possibility of 
their telescoping or slipping at critical moments. 

Unquestionably, in no part of the globe are there so many 
Salmon rivers as there are in the Dominion of Canada. There 
are far more than a hundred — in all perhaps a hundred and 
twenty — w^hich might yield fair sport to the rod, counting only 
those of the Atlantic coast, and not including those of the 



42 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Arctic and Pacific. Dozens of them have never been fished 
with a fly. Some, perhaps, are virgin even to netters. Only 
the rude spear or clumsy hooks of Esquimaux have tested 
the quality of the most isolated. 

First of all are the inimitable short rivers of Nova Scotia, 
numbering fifteen or twenty, which pour out from the limpid 
reservoirs on the height of land forming the watershed of the 
peninsula along nearly its entire longitudinal axis of one hun- 
dred and twenty miles. These are set like glistening gems in 
a sylvan crown, and the water which flows therefrom is as 
clear as crystal, and the Salmon which run up betimes from 
the sea have only a holiday journey to make to the sources, 
always blithesome and comely of form, and performing the 
taxing duties of life with the ease and comfort of the favored 
and high-born among men. They live in luxury, with no end 
of choice food in variety, the young of lobsters, and innu- 
merable crustaceans, moUusks, and annelids, which hide on 
the beach and among the rocks, the herring-sile and small fry 
which come in from the sea, when its waters are tepid; the 
larvae and fingerlings of the upper streams and lakes, and 
the endless variety which nature supplies from her largess of 
woods and waters, both salt and fresh. Here, likewise, the 
angler may enjoy the luxuries of civilization, without hard- 
ship of the camp, or the pest of brulards and black flies, or 
the taxing tedium of the wilderness canoe-voyage, or the pro- 
tracted journey by sea en route. For comfort, pure and 
simple, with a modicum of fun, commend me to the rivers 
and hospitality of Nova Scotia. With McKinlay's excellent 
map, published at Halifax, one may soon learn the country 
like a book, and he need never get permanently lost in the 
woods, for this goodly strip of Bluenose Land is scarcely forty 
miles wide from the ocean to the Bay of Fundy, and if the 
uninitiated stranger would cross from shore to shore without 
a guide, he has only to follow some water-course up to its 
source on the ridge, and then down the other side to the sea. 



THE SALMON. 43 

The experience is far more pleasing than wandering through 
the monotonous pine forests of New Brunswick, where every 
turn in the far-reaching Miramiche or Nepissiguit looks like 
the last, and the inevitable porcupine is found rooting at the 
foot of every jack-pine where you camp. 

Nevertheless, New Brunswick is a delectable land, traversed 
as it is by interminable water-courses, which interlace at 
their sources, and offer no end of canoe-routes, whereby one 
may travel for summer after summer without covering the 
same ground twice. And here again we have not only 
McMillan's old reliable map of the Province, but a brand-new 
map, recently published in Boston, prepared from the notes 
of an enthusiastic canoe-man, who gives all the routes, port- 
ages, and good fishing-places that are contained within a wide 
district. Here in this forest land is the noble Restigouche, 
famed among Salmon rivers all over the world, with its one 
hundred and forty miles of length, and sixty miles of good 
Salmon fishing. And here, too, are its four great branches, 
the Metapedia, Patapedia, Upsalquitch, and Tom Kedgewick, 
almost equally prolific and desirable, all of them leased and 
fished by the magnates of the Dominion and the nobility of 
England. In these rivers the Salmon run up to seventy 
pounds in weight, and the annual commercial catch is some- 
thing fabulous. It is said that a million and a half of pounds 
of Canadian Salmon pass into the New York market every 
year, and of this amount the Restigouche system furnishes 
four-fifths! There are other rivers on the Boie des Chaleurs 
beside the Restigouche which furnish giant Salmon, and 
among them the grand Cascapedise is notable. I once saw 
five Salmon taken out of this river with fly by ex-President 
Arthur and Mr. R. G. Dun, which weighed fifty-five pounds 
each — all in one outing. Indeed, it may be said that all 
these rivers of the Bay, being long-visited and of great reputa- 
tion, and quite accessible withal, are the grand fluvial prizes 
to be contended for at Quebec when the leases are up for 



44 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

auction. Here, indeed, is the center and goal of every known 
angler's ambition; for not only do the nobility of England 
wet their lines in these choice waters, but here is the most 
aristocratic fishing-club in the world, whose shares are worth 
$4, 500 to own, and whose annual dues and expenses for the 
season bring up the cost of the fishing privilege to a figure 
which only the wealthy can reach; and to "knock the persim- 
mon," the pole must be not only superlatively long, but socially 
gilded and mounted. 

I could tell many stories of the Restigouche, reaching well 
back to ancient annals, some of which are absolutely ghostly. 
For instance, some twenty years ago there plied upon the 
river a wondrous craft, whose cognomen was "Great Caesar's 
Ghost," fitted up with amplitude of cabin, kitchen, and prom- 
enade deck, and drawn by horses, which plashed and flound- 
ered up the long reaches of the river, alternately taking to the 
bed and the banks, as the straits and exigencies of the route 
required. Her owner, Mr. C. J. Bridges, whilom manager 
of the Grand Trunk Railway, took many a distinguished 
party with him on his annual excursions, but finally he betook 
himself to Manitoba for speculative purposes, and I am not 
aware that even a wreck of the ghost remains. However, 
in its life it was the most material ghost it has ever been my 
fortune to encounter. 

I remember, too, another incident. It germinated in our 
atmosphere of royalty. Once we were apt to associate fisti 
with billingsgate and bad smells. In the Old World we 
know that the chase alone enlisted the royal favor. From 
time immemorial hunting was regarded as a regal sport, and 
in some dominions it was the exclusive prerogative of kings. 
Doubtless, in ancient time, the royal retinue, with its gor- 
geous trappings and blare of trumpets, swept haughtily past 
the solitary angler by the quiet river-side, scarcely deigning" 
him a thought, or even a sneer. Certainly enough, all the pre- 
cepts of Bishop Sanderson, and the philosophy of Walton and 



THE SALMON. 45 

AVotton, could not command a decent respect from old Sam 
Johnson, or persuade Venator that angling and hunting had 
.any right to be mentioned in the same breath. It is different 
now.- There may be no precedents of recognition in the 
musty past, but the fruitful present utters no doubtful sound 
at least, so far as Salmon fishing is concerned. Salmon 
fishing has been ennobled as a sport by Her Royal Highness, 
the daughter of the Queen of England and Empress of India, 
and conjointly by her noble spouse, the Marquis of Lome, 
late- Governor-General of Canada. With her own royal 
hands the Princess Louise has captured a twenty-five pound 
Salmon on the river Restigouche, and sent it home to her 
Queen-mother, with the Jock Scott fly which caught it fixed 
in its jaws, as a trophy of her prowess, and affidavit that the 
feat was all her own! 

No lukewarm sportsman is His Excellency, the Marquis. 
It was my good fortune once to be privately presented to him 
■on the eve of an excursion down-river. It was at Quebec, 
on the occasion of his inaugurating the Dufferin Terrace, in 
1879. I found the royal party on board the steamer Druid, 
inspecting cabin quarters which they were to occupy en route 
to the Restigouche, where they were going to fish. The 
Druid was a government vessel, commanded by Captain Mar- 
mion, with whom it had been my pleasure to make several 
voyages around the Gulf of St. Lawrence as many as fifteen 
years before. While I was pleasantly engaged in a friendly 
chat with the veteran mariner, my friend, J. U.Gregory, Esq., 
the Naval Agent at Quebec, came up the companion-way in 
company with Major De Wintor, His Excellency's aide-de- 
camp, and having presented me, announced that the Marquis 
would be pleased to see me presently. I held one of Abbey & 
Grubrie's oreide Salmon reels in my hand, and literally "stood 
by the wheel," like a true helmsman, determined to shirk no 
■duty. Accordingly, when I came to a front face and present. 
His Excellency took me graciously by the hand, and we occu- 



46 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

pied common ground at once. We talked of fish and fishing- 
tackle, the natural history of the country, and kindred topics, 
and when we finally parted, I was quite at my ease, and felt 
more than ever the truth of the old adage, that "one touch 
of nature makes the whole world kin." Had we never fished, 
we had never met! 

Earl Dufferin, his predecessor, was a most proficient 
angler, and so was the countess. Both were at one time 
guests of the Hon. Allan Gilmour, of Ottawa, who owns a 
princely preserve of 5,000 acres on the Godbout. They 
fished that river in 1876, staid two days, and are credited with 
a score of seven fish, aggregating seventy-one pounds in weight. 
Dufferin on one occasion had fought a fish manfully in one 
of the most difficult pools on the river, where the old Scotch- 
man delights to test the mettle of his visitors. In an attempt 
to bring the fish to gaff, after a long struggle, he slipped on 
the rocks and plunged into the drink. He got a thorough 
wetting, but saved his fish and won a reputation. The 
laugh, however, does not come in here. The climax is 
reached when his lordship appears an hour afterward in a dry 
suit of Mr. Gilmour' s habiliments, loaned in extremis, which 
were as much of a fit as one could expect where one man was 
only of fair average size, while the other stood six feet two 
in his socks, and weighed at least sixteen stone. 

The Godbout River is several hundred miles below Quebec, 
and until recently was considered to be almost at the anti- 
podes. At present date, however, nearly all of the rivers on the 
north shore of the St. Lawrence River, which do not belong 
to ancient seigniories, are up for lease, and it is every year be- 
coming more and more interesting to see how the spirit of 
exploration and emulation is carrying our own people of 
the United States farther and farther into the remote por- 
tions of the Canadian Dominion. Within two years they 
have taken possession of a large part of the Lake St. John 
country, and the wilderness lying between it and Quebec, 



THE SALMON. 4/ 

registering a club membership of over one hundred, and 
numerous camps; and now the eye of the keen angler is 
directed to the rivers on the eastern coast of Labrador, 
which lie far beyond the line of popular ambition hitherto. 
It will not be long before the Salmon rivers of Byron's Bay 
and Sandwich Bay will be visited, while the Tomliscom, the 
Hamilton, and the Nor'west Rivers of the Great Esquimau.x 
Bay, in latitude 55 degrees, which I described in "Harper's 
Magazine" thirty years ago, will become places of annual 
resort for anglers. These last named are fine Salmon rivers, 
and the presence of two very considerable Hudson Bay ports 
in the vicinity, within thirty miles of each other, relieves a 
sojourn on the Bay of an asperity of aspect which might other- 
wise seem hyperborean to a man who has never traveled in 
higher latitudes. 

The Esquimaux who live on the Bay number perhaps fifty 
souls now, though once they were a community of seven 
hundred; and each season they salt and smoke a large quantity 
of Salmon for their own use and the consumption of the Hud- 
son Bay employes at Rigolet and Nor'west River stations. 
These two stations are headquarters for the Southern District 
of Labrador. Fort Chimo, on Ungava Bay, is the head- 
quarters of the Northern District, and there is a regular trail 
from one to the other over the great dividing ridge which 
separates the two. This ridge, or mountain range, extends 
southwesterly across the Labrador to the Saguenay River, 
touching it at or near Lake St. John. It is a most elevated 
plateau, diversified by peaks and knobs, among which Mount 
Nat Mokome (the Clerk) and an extensive range known as 
the Mealy Mountains, are conspicuous, nearly all bare of 
verdure, and snow-capped perpetually. I could write an 
entire chapter about the physical geography of this region, 
so little known, but this fishing paper is not a suitable place 
for it. However, it is pertinent to state that on this vast 
water-shed, which traverses a region containing 450,000 square 



48 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

miles, are collected innumerable bodies of water, some of 
them immense, like Lake Mistassini, larger than Ontario, and 
others mere lakelets, out of which they discharge the melted 
accumulations of winter in turbulent streams, which usually 
plunge over lofty escarpments into the ocean and Gulf of St. 
Lawrence, in falls from one hundred and fifty to four hundred 
feet high. This feature is peculiar as well to the north shore 
of the St. Lawrence River, from its mouth nearly up to Que- 
bec. The celebrated Montmorenci Falls afford a striking 
illustration thereof. Some of these falls impinge directly on 
the river, while others are set back from one to four miles. 
In many cases, however, the waters of the interior find their 
exit through great gorges and rifts in the rocks, and in all such 
cases become Salmon rivers, unless there are obstacles to 
obstruct their ascent. There are perhaps sixty of these rivers 
catalogued for lease at the Crown Lands Department in Que- 
bec. The most notable of these are the LeVal,i8o miles below 
Quebec; Trinity, 276 miles; St. Margaret, 340; the Moisic, 
364; the St. John du Nord, 454, constituting the boundary 
line between the Province of Quebec and Labrador; the Min- 
gon, 465 miles; the Natashquan, 571 miles, and the Esqui- 
maux, 720 miles from Quebec. Seven hundred and twenty 
miles are a good many to make for a few Salmon. The St. 
John du Nord used to be a favorite river of the Harriotts and 
the Havemeyers. of New York, and actor W. J. Florence 
used to fish the Natashquan. One summer, I think it was 
in 1879, he went down with E. A. Sothern (Lord Dun- 
dreary), the Duke of Beaufort, and Sir John Reid, and 
the party captured ninety-eight Salmon, weighing 1,328 
pounds, in the course of about three weeks, though the 
actual fishing time was but fifty-eight and one-eighth hours. 
That bunch of Salmon must have cost the party about $3.50 
per pound. The steamer which they chartered to take them 
down from Quebec to the fishing-ground cost $1,000, and the 
other expenses must have brought the bill up to $6,000, for 



THE SALMON. 49 

to be comfortable under such circumstances requires the 
building of a commodious cabonc at the river; to have cooks, 
gaffers, and supernumeraries; to provide liberally with pro- 
visions and camp-furniture, as well as personal outfit. Even 
the item of fly-oil, some wag has suggested, must have been 
important of itself. 

Reference to the many rivers of the Dominion to which 
anglers resort would not be complete without including the 
Margarie of Cape Breton, the Jupiter and Dauphine of Anti- 
costi Island, and the Humber, Castor, Gauder, and Exploits, 
and a good dozen others, of Newfoundland. The Margarie 
and Newfoundland are easily reached by regular steamers 
from Halifax, while Anticosti is accessible by chaloupes 
which run frequently from Quebec to the island in the fish- 
ing season. 

At the present time all available Salmon rivers lie below 
Quebec. But twenty years ago, and previously, the Jacques 
Cartier, above Quebec, was noted for its fish, and a hundred 
years ago many streams which empty into Lake Ontario con- 
tained Salmon. Perhaps some day all of them may be re- 
stored. In such event ambitious wielders of the ambidex- 
trous rod will not be obliged to go to the Natashquan, nor 
pay from $1,000 to $6,000 for a brief period of sport. Never- 
theless, there is nothing in life better worth the paying for; 
and any man who has tussled- with a big Salmon and brought 
him to gaff may well feel himself a hero, and join with a vener- 
able Godbout River poet, who is now far in the decline of life, 
after boating and grassing hundreds of goodly Salmon, in the 
epigram: 

"At last the dubious fight is o'er! 
The battle has been fairly won, 
And the coveted prize lies safe on shore. 
A beauty! a twenty-pounder good! 
Hurrah! a prettier Salmon sure 
Was ne'er seen beneath the sun." 




50 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 



BY W. A. PERRY ("SILALICUM"). 



ON the Pacific Coast there are found five species of 
Sahiion, all of which, with the exception of one that is 
locally confined, entering one short, rapid river, range up 
the northwestern coast as far as the Arctic Circle, and even 
beyond to Bering Straits. These fishes occupy a very impor- 
tant position in regard to the welfare of the aboriginal popu- 
lation of the coast, and even of the interior, in furnishing them 
with their principal means of subsistence. The Salmon is, and 
was, of greater importance to the Siwash (this term includes 
all Indians speaking Chinook, and, in fact, all Indians be- 
tween the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific, the northern line 
of California, and British Columbia) than the elk, mountain 
goat, moose, and deer combined. North of British Colum- 
bia it is the main staple. True, there is an abundance of the 
finest Halibut, Codfish, and Sturgeon, that the ocean can 
produce, to be found along the entire northern coast; but 
even these fishes, that supply the laboring people of the 
coasts of Europe with what to them are luxuries, are by the 
Indian and the Esquimau regarded with contempt, as being 
fit only to be eaten in times of threatened starvation, or when 
Salmon cannot be procured. 

The species of Pacific Salmon are: the Quinnat, or Tyee 
Salmon; the Kisutch, or Blue-back Salmon; the Nerka, or 
Saw-qui Salmon; the Keta, or Cultus Salmon; the Quil- 
layute, or Oolahan Salmon. 

The Quinnat, or Tyee Salmon, is the largest that occurs 

51 



52 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

on the Pacific, and often reaches a weight of one hundred 
pounds. It was formerly very abundant in the Sacramento 
and Columbia Rivers, but the vast numbers caught and 
canned yearly have reduced the great schools of these fishes 
to but a tithe of their former numbers. They are abundant 
yet in the-Frazer River, and in the rivers farther north, and 
are also caught in Puget Sound, but in limited numbers. 
They are a beautiful fish, and a gamy one. They take the 
trolling-spoon in salt water, or a hook, baited with Salmon- 
roe, in fresh water. 

The Kisutch, or Blue-back Salmon, is the dude among 
Salmon, and is, next to the Tyee, the most valuable. It has 
not the rich, firm flesh of the Tyee, but is a delicious fish, 
and the flesh is of a true Salmon color. It is also a gamy 
fish, and is even a greater favorite with anglers than the Tyee, 
as it takes the spoon freely and fights desperately. This fish 
is known also as Coho. It reaches a weight of over twenty 
pounds, and it is in great demand with the commercial fisher- 
men and canners. 

The Nerka is but a rare visitant on Puget Sound, while on 
the Frazer River it is the principal spring Salmon, sometimes 
coming with the last run of the Tyee. 

Perhaps one-half of the Salmon exported to England from 
the canneries of the Frazer were Saw-qui when they sported 
in that muddy stream. This fish never exceeds twelve or 
fourteen pounds in weight, and is condemned by anglers. 
When hooked he makes but little resistance, and comes 
tamely in. 

The Keta, or Cultus (meaning bad or worthless) Salm.on, 
otherwise known as the Dog Salmon, extends over the entire 
northern Pacific coast. It is found in every river, every lake, 
brook and streamlet, slough and ditch, that connect with the 
rivers that afford water enough for it to swim in, and is even 
said to be sometimes found floundering overland looking for 
water. Its flesh is white and worthless, except to the Indians. 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 



53 




54 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



(Even crow is regarded as a delicacy with them.) The only 
thing to be admired about this fish is its determination. It 
has largely developed "get-there" qualities, and if it meets 
an obstacle in the stream that it can't leap over, it will try 
to climb over. Failing in this, it will ram against it with its 
nose until it kills itself. 

When you open a can of Columbia River Salmon, if you 
find the meat white, insipid, and tasteless, you may safely 
conclude that some old martyr of this species furnished the 
contents. It grows to a weight of twelve pounds, takes the 
spoon, and makes a determined fight. 

The Quillayute is the smallest of the Salmon. It is found 
only in the Quillayute River, Clallam County, Washington. 
It is a short, thick fish, weighing about six pounds. It has 
never been classified by naturalists. The flesh is well flavored 
and firm. It also takes the spoon, and affords good sport. 
On account of the richness of its flesh, the Indians have 
named it the Oolahan, or Eulachon, after the Candlefish, and 
no greater compliment could they have paid it, for in their 
estimation the Candlefish is the most delicious morsel that 
swims. 

These species of Salmon are of great importance to the 
white people of the northwest coast. Next to lumbering, 
the handling of these fishes gives employment to the greatest 
number of people. A great many Chinese, Indians, and 
"dagos" are also employed in this industry. An "off-year" 
in the Salmon run means serious commercial depression in 
this region, for the failure of the Salmon to come means the 
locking up of millions of dollars that would otherwise be 
distributed among the people. 

I shall not here go into minute descriptions of the various 
canneries, or of their methods of handling the fish. The only 
allusion I will make is to the method of taking them. 

In the early morning, boat after boat leaves the cannery 
wharf. These boats are skiffs twenty feet long, and each is 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 55 

manned by two men — the boatman and the net-handler. In 
the stern of the skiff a net of three-inch mesh, two hundred 
and fifty yards long, and six feet deep, is carefully coiled. 
To the brail-rope of this net empty five-gallon coal-oil cans 
are attached, one hundred feet apart. Arriving at the place 
selected for the day's work, the net-handler stands erect in 
the boat, and quickly pays out the net over the stern, the 
boatman meantime pulling for all he is worth. When the 
net is once launched in the river, it is allowed to drift with 
the current for half an hour, and then the skiff, which has 
drifted alongside, is rowed to the end of the net that was first 
placed in the river, and the process of drawing the net and 
killing the fish begins. If during the run of the Saw-qui, a 
fish will be found every few feet, caught in a mesh and held 
fast by the gills. The fish, in endeavoring to go up-stream, 
force their way in spite of every seeming obstruction, and 
when they meet the net try to force themselves through it. 
They succeed in forcing their heads through, but cannot put 
their bodies through the meshes of the net. In attempting 
to withdraw their heads, the twine becomes entangled in their 
gills, and the fate of poor Saw-qui is sealed. He is lifted 
into the boat and dispatched with a stout bludgeon. The 
net-tender then disentangles the fish from the net, and throws 
it into a crate, or on the bottom of the boat. Should there 
be more Salmon in the net than the skiff can carry, the nearest 
boat is signaled and comes to the aid of this crew, and the fish 
are taken at once to the cannery. 

In 1879, while employed as an engineer on a tug belong- 
ing to a cannery, myself and a friend took a boat and a net 
one evening, and made a "drift." The result was four hun- 
dred and forty-three Saw-qui, that would average eight 
pounds. As the boatmen had concluded their labors for the 
day and had gone home, we were in a plight. Our skiff 
would not hold one-half the Salmon, and was soon loaded to 
the gunwale. We drifted down the river, and fortunately met 



56 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

a small steam-launch that took us in tow, and brought us 
safely to the cannery wharf, where our Salmon were secured 
and counted. We received one cent each for them, and con- 
sidered ourselves well paid; but the next day the net-tender 
put in a bill for twelve dollars damages, claiming that we had 
torn and almost ruined his net. We paid the bill, and 
ever since we have considered that we "lost money on de 
goods." 

Various methods of taking the Pacific Salmon are by the 
fish-wheel, "of all diabolical inventions the most infernal," 
the net, the trap, the spoon, and the bait-hook. But I will 
only describe here the methods of catching Salmon by hand. 

When the sultry June sun shines on the Cascade Mount- 
ains, the melting snow causes the river to rise rapidly. The 
Indians watch closely for this event, and the various tribes 
gather in the deep, narrow canyon where the river runs. 
The drying-sheds of these people have stood in the same 
places since the unknown ages, and every year the same 
families return to the same sheds. These sheds, or scaffolds, 
are crudely, yet strongly, built. No nails or pins are used. 
Posts are set firmly in the ground, to the tops of which beams 
are firmly lashed with ropes of bark, and strong poles laid 
from one rafter to another. Sometimes there will be a com- 
plete net-work of beams and rafters, the whole capable of sus- 
taining many tons of Salmon. This skeleton building is then 
covered and sided up with bark, and noble Mr. Lo is ready 
for business. 

When the morning sun warms the air, he arises, gives 
himself a shake, and his toilet is made. Taking his dip-net 
from the side of the bark rancherie, where he has slept, he 
ambles down to the river, takes his position on a jutting rock, 
and begins to drag his net down the stream. The hoop of 
this net is usually thirty inches in diameter, and the net about 
four feet deep. It is attached to a handle about twelve feet 
long. The current of the Frazer is very swift, and in order 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 57 

to fish successfully Mr. Lo has to exert himself in a manner 
not at all to his liking. 

It is a picturesque sight to watch one of these Indians 
fishing — his brown, nude figure pictured against the dark 
basaltic rock throwing and withdrawing his net, and if suc- 
cessful, the blue and orange of the great Salmon struggling 
in the net which glitters in the sun like an interlacing of dia- 
mond cords. The fish is cast violently on the rock, and a 
war-whoop thrills the air. Almost instantly, a squaw, as 
nude as the fisherman on the rocks, appears and gets the 
Salmon. In a short time a fire is blazing in the rancherie. 
The Salmon is split in two, and on a hoop is roasting before 
the fire. By the time the Salmon is cooked, the fisherman 
may have a hundred lying on the rock. He then shoulders his 
net, and returns to the rancherie, having all the fish that can 
be cured that day. After disposing of the cooked Salmon, 
he curls himself up under the shade of some rock, and sleeps 
away the greater part of the day. When he dies, a great 
wooden Salmon is erected on a pole over the place where he 
sleeps in the Memaloose house. May he never be resurrected! 

The squaw, when she finishes eating the fragments of 
Salmon that her lord has left, proceeds to the rock and carries 
the fish to the rancherie. She then cleans and splits them 
and hangs them on the rafters. The eggs are thrown into a 
hole in the corner of the rancherie. When they ripen to a 
peculiar degree of nastiness, they are bailed out and molded 
in a press into blocks, dried, and kept to be the food of 
Tyees, on occasions of great state. The Salmon are smoked 
on the rafters, then taken down, baled, and then hoisted up 
into Salmon-houses, that are built high up in the branches of 
trees. In former days, if any of these Indians offended an 
officer of the Bay Company, he would find out the location 
of their Salmon houses, and would send a missionary, armed 
with a pair of telegraph-climbers and some arsenic, who 
would investigate the contents of the bales. It is enough to 



58 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

say that some rancheries were "to let" before the next spring; 
and there would be a demand for wooden Salmon in the 
Memaloose house. 

A still easier method of taking the Salmon, practiced by 
these Indians, is by trapping them as they ascend the smaller 
rivers and creeks. A row of stakes, split from the red cedar, 
is driven across the stream. In the center of the stream the 
stakes take the form of a loop. Resting on the bottom of 
this loop, and inclining upward at an angle of twenty-five 
degrees, is a cradle about four feet wide and twenty-five feet 
long. The Salmon encounter the stakes in the stream, and 
follow the line until they enter the loop, and from there force 
themselves up the slanting incline until they drop into the 
cradle. This cradle, though lightly made, is strong, being 
wickered up with vine-maple. During the day-time some 
one is continually on the watch, and as soon as a Salmon is 
floundering on the inclined platform, it is at once removed by 
the watcher with a peculiar gaff-hook, which I will describe 
later. 

Near the trap, on the bank, stands a bark-covered smoke- 
house, such as I have described as in use on the Frazer, with 
the same horrid smelling receptacle for eggs. In the morning 
the trap presents an interesting appearance. The cradle is 
full of struggling, writhing, flapping Salmon. The Kisutch, 
the Saw-qui, the Keta, and too often hundreds of beautiful 
Mountain Trout, are heaped together in the cradle. As soon 
as the Indians awake they rush out, and with shouts of glee 
toss the contents of the trap on the bank, perhaps to rot 
untouched, and the trap, always set, is ready for another 
multitude of victims. 

The gaff-hook used by these Indians is a peculiarly ingenious 
affair. Procuring a shark-hook, they fasten a socket of wood 
to the shank; a hole is bored into the socket to receive a 
strong string. The handle of this gaff is a light pole that 
fits neatly, ,yet loosely, into the socket of the hook. About 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 59 

four inches from the end a hole is bored to receive a string. 
The other end of the string is securely fastened to the socket 
on the hook. The string is about a foot long. 

When an Indian goes fishing with one of these hooks, he 
rolls up his trousers, if he be the proud possessor of a pair, 
and, wading into the stream, watches closely until he sees a 
Salmon, when, placing the hook over the fish, he draws it 
sharply toward him. If he strike the Salmon, the handle 
draws out from the socket, and this prevents the handle from 
being broken by the struggles of the fish. He then wades 
ashore, kills the Salmon, extracts his hook, fits it on the 
handle, and is ready for another assault on the innocents. 

The Salmon enter the Frazer River in the following order: 
The Tyee in June, the Saw-qui soon after, the Kisutch in 
August, the Keta in September or October. 

It is not necessary to discuss at greater length the schools 
of these fishes that fill the streams from June to December. 
Vast they are in numbers beyond human conception. To 
attempt to describe the migration of the finny multitude 
would be doing something that some men have attempted, 
and have been ridiculed for their pains. I will therefore pro- 
ceed with a description of how, on one occasion, we procured 
Salmon for the "potlatch" of Skool, and will then treat of the 
methods of trolling for the Salmon which are in vogue on the 
Pacific Coast. 

Potlatch is a word that I presume cannot be found in other 
than a Chinook dictionary. The literal meaning of the term 
is "to give." Used in the Siwash sense, it means a great 
gathering of people, to whom some rich Siwash donates every- 
thing he possesses. 

Certainly this wouldn't be a bad plan for Vanderbilt, Jay 
Gould, and other money magnates to adopt. Besides, to be a 
guest at such a potlatch as these gentlemen could give would 
be an agreeable experience for a man whose bank account can- 
not be seen without a powerful magnifying glass. The giver of 



6o AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

a potlatch prefaces the ceremony with a feast. It was to 
aid in providing Salmon for a feast of this kind that I volun- 
teered, and the incidents of which I will relate. 

I had just returned from a hunting-trip in the mountains, 
was busily engaged in reloading cartridges, when a shadow fell 
across my threshold. Looking up, I saw, intently watching 
me, Skool, chief of the Sumas, prince of the Nootsachs of 
the Lummies, and a man fitted by nature and disposition to 
be Major Domo of Hades. A dirty, sneaking scoundrel he 
is, and if he knew how to be worse than he is, Skool would 
certainly be worse. 

I kept on with my work, paying no attention to him. For 
some mmutes he stood motionless as a statue, and then, in a 
voice modulated to an almost womanly tenderness, he said, 
"Brother, Skool is here." Then I dropped my tools and 
asked him what he wanted. 

"I have known my brother these many years," began the 
crafty Skool; "at times he is violent, and uses his hands on 
the heads and bodies of us, his red brothers. But for all the 
beatings he has given us, still we love him. True, we do not 
like to be beaten with sticks; neither do we like to be kicked. 
Should any other than our brother do these things, some 
night a knife would seek his heart; but to even be abused by 
the white hunter, who fears nothing, is an honor. Skool asks 
a favor of his brother. When I told Skaleel, he said, 'No; 
I, Skaleel, am old and wise — he will never grant even you, 
Skool, such a great favor. ' " 

"Well, what do you want.-"' I asked. 

Then Skool assumed an amusing attitude, and, in a voice 
that would make the fortune of an actor, began: 

"I, Skool, am brave, and wise, and rich. I have many 
canoes, many horses, many blankets. In the lodge of Skool 
are many bundles of dried Salmon, many bales of blankets. 
I have looked at this great wealth; I have thought, here is 
wealth that would make tribes happy, wealthy, and contented; 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 6l 

yet here I keep it locked up. A month ago I said to the old 
Prince Skaleel, who before me was the great Tyee of the 
Sumas, 'Skool is unhappy, because he is rich.' Then Skaleel 
said: 'Let Skool give a great potlatch. Let him give away 
everything he owns. Let the wealth that troubles Skool be 
distributed among the Indians, from the Salt Chuck to the 
Father Hills, * from the Skagit to the Yucon ; ' and I said, ' It is 
even as you wish it, O Father. ' Then we sent messengers to 
many lands, far away, in canoes, to the green islands of the 
North. Horsemen rode through the passes of the White 
Mountains, and told our brothers, in the land of bunch-grass 
and bright skies, to come and meet their brothers of the 
North, at the potlatch of Skool. There the Hyda shall meet 
the Spokane, and the Snake will meet the Tinneah. O, great 
will be the gathering of the nations at the potlatch of Skool. 
But this morning the Skyu came unseen and entered into the 
breasts of the young men of the tribe, and in the darkness 
of the night they stole into the lodge of Skool and took from 
there all the fire-water that was to warm the hearts of the 
old chiefs of many nations. Now the fire-water has tied their 
brains and loosened their tongues, and has taken all the 
power from their legs. They are lying in the lodges like so 
many hogs. And to-morrow is the feast of Skool, and not a 
Salmon has he to feast a friend, not to speak of a multitude 
from many lands. So I said to Skaleel: 'Silalicum will never 
see disgrace rest on the name of Skool; he will think of the 
time when his sister, the bright-eyed star of the Sumas, who 
now is a queen in the happy hunting-grounds of the unknown, 
was the friend of Skool. Not only will he come, but he will 
bring his friend, he of the strong arm, with him, and together 
they will catch many Salmon. ' And when the feast is spread, 
I will sa}^ to the envious Smohallah, the dreamer from the 
land of clear skies, 'Behold these great Salmon! They were 
caught by Silalicum for the potlatch of Skool, his friend. ' " 

*Rocky Mountains. 



62 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

The wily scoundrel carried his point, for in his speech he 
had revived the memories of one whom to remember was 
kind even of this reprobate. So, dismissing the Indian, I 
walked across the valley to the house of my friend Nattrass, 
"he of the strong arm," and told him of the promise I had 
made to Skool. 

"But how shall we catch them.'" he asked. 

"Oh, that's easy enough," said I; "we will take our 22-cali- 
ber Winchesters and shoot them." 

"But what if some eastern sportsman would hear of this 
and go for us in the papers.' — it's not sportsman-like." 

Then I told him that if some eastern chap should give us a 
roasting, it would do no harm, for nothing would be easier 
than to explain that these were Keta, or Dog Salmon, who 
yearly follow up the migration of the Kisutch Salmon and 
destroy the spawn, and when that is accomplished, eat up all 
the Trout in the brooks for amusement; that the Dog Salmon, 
except for fattening hogs (for which purpose it is much used 
by the ranchers), and for food for Indians, was worthless. 

The next morning, as soon as the sun had risen, we were 
on our way to the rancherie of Skool. The distance was 
only two miles, which we speedily passed over, and when we 
arrived near the rancherie we were greeted by a pandemonium 
of noises. The young bucks were evidently not sobering off. 
They peered at us from the openings in the tents, but made 
no remarks. Perhaps they had reason to remember that 
they had seen one of us before. 

We found Skool and a band of squaws ready to accompany 
us. They were all armed with gaff-hooks such as I have 
described. Hearing some murmuring among them, I asked 
them why they did not want to go, and they told me that a 
great cultus bear (cinnamon) had chased them away from the 
fishing-grounds the day before, and that was why the young 
bucks would not fish — -they were afraid of the bear. Just 
then Skool came back, having overheard the conversation, 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 63 

and struck one of the squaws in the mouth with all his might. 
A moment later he was lying on his back with the blood flow- 
ing in a stream from his nose. Evidently the white men ex- 
pected to receive no presents from Skool. 

When we arrived at the falls we witnessed a sight almost 
beyond belief. The falls were more of a rapid than a fall, 
having a descent of ten feet in twenty-five. The stream was 
about eight feet wide and two feet deep, and was one living, 
writhing, struggling mass of Salmon. They were passing up 
in a continuous body. It was a continuous run of Salmon 
from the Frazer River, six miles away, to the mountain lake, 
three miles beyond. Nattrass stood like one petrified, and 
gazed on the scene in astonishment. So much noise did 
they make that, combined with the roar of the mountain 
stream, we could scarcely hear each other speak. 

I looked at Skool, who stood holding his swollen nose, and 
saw that he wished me to begin operations at once; so, taking 
my rifle, I fired the twenty-five shots that it contained into the 
struggling mass that was forcing its way up the rapid. 
Nattrass did the same. Soon the living became entangled 
with the dead, and the whole mass came to a stand-still. Has- 
tily reloading our magazines, we awaited the result. Soon the 
jam was broken; the living forcing themselves up the stream, 
and the dead ones floating back. Skool and the squaws, wading 
into the stream, caught the latter and threw them on the bank. 

Again we emptied our magazines, with like results. The 
excitement became great, and the heap of Salmon on the 
bank became large. Again, again, and again were the maga- 
zines filled and emptied, until our supply of cartridges was 
exhausted; but that did not occur before there was at least a 
ton of Salmon lying on the bank. Then, at a word of com- 
mand from Skool, each of the women, slinging fifteen of the 
fish on a bark rope (they would average about twelve pounds 
each), threw the bundle of fish over her shoulder and ambled 
off down the path to the rancherie. 



64 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Asking Skool why he did not use the gaff-hooks, he rephed 
that the hard rocks that bordered the stream would ruin them, 
and that not more than one or two fish could be caught before 
the gaff would be broken. Asking him if he was satisfied with 
the number of Salmon caught, he replied that he was not. 
He said: "Many, many people; all the Salmon twelve women 
can carry not much." By this time some of the young bucks 
had partially sobered, and came staggering up the path. As 
soon as they arrived they began to strip themselves naked, 
and, taking the gaff-hooks, waded into the stream. They 
caught but few Salmon before either the hooks or the handles 
were broken. Then they began to search with their hands 
under the bowlders and shelving rocks for fish. When they 
felt one they would slip a hand in his gills, seize him by 
the tail, bend his body so he could not struggle, and then 
throw him far out on the bank. 

The school of Salmon had (as always is the case in 'the 
middle of the day) ceased to run. So it was only stragglers 
that were now caught. Skool proposed walking over a low 
ridge and reaching the stream above. The stream is crooked, 
and by walking a few hundred yards we would reach it at a point 
where we would meet the great school of the morning. When 
we arrived at the place desired, we found the stream three 
times as wide as it was below, and but few inches in depth, 
with a white, sandy bottom. It was literally filled with 
Salmon. The Indians at once stripped themselves nude, and, 
entering the living mass, began throwing them on the bank. 
We walked along the bank, and, seizing a fish that ventured 
too near the bank, would throw it on the shore. But we were 
losing the great excitement the Indians were having, as they 
ran laughing and splashing in the water. Besides, every fish 
we caught would splash us from head to foot. 

We could stand it no longer. I took my hunting-knife 
and cut two vine-maple clubs. "Back to the Stone Age!" I 
shouted. "Away with civilization!" and we were primeval 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 65 

men once more. Stripping ourselves to the red flannel, we 
leaped in the brook, brandishing our clubs, and for half an 
hour waged a war on the poor old Dog Salmon that was never 
excelled by starving red men for ferocity or destructiveness. 
The clubs fell with a pendulum-like regularity on the heads of 
the Salmon. They butted their rough noses against us, and 
tried to force their heads beneath our feet. When we stooped 
they would leap over us. It was a scene of grandeur as well 
as of carnage. Above us frowned the eternal snow-capped 
mountains; below slept the flower-decked valley of the Sumas; 
beyond, the great Frazer, glittering in the light of the noonday 
sun, swept onward to the ocean. Around us were the nude red 
men, short of limb and long of body, whose bronze skins con- 
trasted strangely with the small, broad-shouldered, slender- 
waisted white men. It took but a glance to remind one of 
the change that food, shelter, and civilization wrought in the 
white men. They were much the smaller, but in a battle 
without weapons there would have been a sure victory for 
the whites, even if they were but two to eight. 

For half an hour the "Stone Age" war rolled on. All that 
time the living horde in its blue and crimson dress swept on 
its upward way to the mountain lake; and all that time had 
the nude men beaten and thumped the fish as they swept past. 

At last the voice of Skool rang out, "Hy-yu! hy-yu!" 
(enough, enough). We turned and saw a wall of Salmon 
piled on the bank. Dropping our clubs and dressing our- 
selves, we returned to civilization, and Skool had plenty of 
Salmon for his potlatch, and yet none to spare. 

It was nearly sunset when the steamer Premier left her 
w^harf at Vancouver, steamed out into the inlet, and thence 
into the gulf. A smoky haze wrapped the distant mountains, 
and the waters of the Gulf of Georgia were unruffled by even 
the slightest breeze. The August sun beat fiercely down on 
the deck, and most of the passengers kept in the shade of the 
5 



66 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

saloon, for even in the far north the August sun is too warm 
for comfort. 

Steadily to the south the steamer swiftly forced her way, 
leaving a long trail of smoke behind her that hung low over 
the water. Then there came a ripple on the water — a faint 
breath from the snow-clad mountains in the north — and the 
air grew strangely chill. The passengers sought their wraps, 
and soon the bow of the steamer was crowded, all intently 
admiring the beautiful scenery about them. And a fairer 
scene was never witnessed on the earth. On either side of 
the gulf rose a rugged line of snow-capped mountains. These 
seen in the light of the setting sun seemed to be vast piles 
of silver. In front rose from the water, like shadowy banks of 
clouds, San Juan Archipelago, and high above the land, with 
the Alpen glow shining on its bald top, rose Mount Constitu- 
tion. As the steamer drew nearer, the islands assumed form, 
and the rough, craggy ledges of the shore could be distinctly 
seen, crowned with scattering trees of scraggy fir. The old 
tourist at the angler's side viewed them with astonishment, 
and said: "Nothing so grand on the coasts of Scotland or 
Norway!" 

It cannot be that Captain De Wolf is going to ground his 
steamer.'' He is heading directly for a point on one of the 
islands. Then comes a jingle on the slow bell — the steamer 
moves slower; then a clang on the gong, and her wheels cease 
to move. Such is the depth of water among these islands that 
the prow of the great steamer almost touches the rocky shore. 
A boat is launched, and a lady and a little boy, accompanied 
by a miscellaneous assortment of camp dunnage, is set ashore. 
A moment later a splendid Hyda canoe is thrust out of the 
gang-way. The angler enters it, and with one stroke of his 
paddle is ashore. But he has forgotten something. "Throw 
the dogs overboard, Captain!" he shouts; but the captain evi- 
dently has ideas of his own, for he sends ihem on shore in the 
boat. As soon as the boat returns it is hoisted in the gang- 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 6/ 

way; there comes a clang on the gong; the angler shouts his 
thanks to the kind-hearted, white-haired old captain on the 
bridge, and with a waving of handkerchiefs on the bow that is 
answered from the shore, the steamer glides swiftly away 
from the island. 

The angler is evidently an old camper. Almost instantly 
the tent is raised; the camp-bed is set up, the various bundles 
are unpacked, and the tent assumes a home-like aspect. Soon 
a fire leaps into view at the tent door, and soon after the 
aroma of coffee is spread like balm on the atmosphere. The 
table is spread, a great can-like torch is lighted and hung on 
the branch of a tree some distance away, from whence it 
sends a bright, flickering light, making the surrounding objects 
look weird in its uncanny light, beyond the circle of its blaze. 
A pair of shining eyes are seen, and soon the hoot of the barred 
owl rises, tremulous in its sad cadence. 

But the angler and his wife are used to such sounds; so the 
quivering, jarring voice of the owl has no unpleasant effect on 
their nerves. As soon as supper is ended, the angler lights a 
lantern, takes a spade, and walks along the rocky shore until 
he reaches a sandy cove. Here he sets his lantern down 
and begins to dig in the sand. At every spadeful he stops 
and throws a dark-looking object to one side. When he has 
secured a dozen of these objects he returns to the tent, first 
placing the objects in the canoe. Then from a box he takes 
his tackle and views it closely. It is common tackle, too — 
a long, thick cod-line, on one end of which is a broad copper 
spoon. This is of rude construction. At a glance an 
angler would see that it was home-made, being nothing but a 
piece of copper cut out of a sheet with a tinner's shears. 
This is attached to the line by a swivel. At the other end a 
hole is punched in the spoon. To this end, through the hole, 
a strong cod-hook is attached by a piece of cod-line an inch 
long. Two feet from the spoon, in a loop, a sinker weighing 
ten ounces is fastened. 



68 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

As soon as his tackle is inspected, the angler makes prepara- 
tions to retire. The dogs are chained up at the door of the 
tent; he takes his riile out of its case and fills the magazine 
with cartridges, for sometimes the Indians of this locality are 
inclined to be thievish, and even murderous. Then the light 
is extinguished at the door, a bucket of water thrown on the 
camp-fire, and all is still, save that the dogs occasionally 
utter a low growl at some prowling raccoons. 

At 3:30 o'clock in the morning a strange jarring, jingling 
noise is heard. It is the sound of the alarm-clock set to waken 
the angler at that hour. Before its whirring ceases he is up and 
dressed, and, with his tackle in hand and paddle under his 
arm, he seeks his canoe. But when he reaches the shore 
there arises a subdued sound of muttered disappointment, but 
so low that it cannot reach distant ears, for the Salmon will 
not take the spoon when the tide is low. Tossing his paddle 
and tackle into the canoe, he returns to the tent, unchains 
his dogs, and then, taking his axe, wanders down the beach 
to where there are some great logs of fir lying. Then he 
engages in some of the exercise that the great English liber- 
ator of Ireland loves — not that he admired, or even loved, the 
exercise — but wood must be procured for camp use. Then, 
after chopping a sufficient quantity, he began, Caliban-like, 
to carry great pieces of the log to camp. When this was 
done he again chained up his dogs and returned to the canoe. 
The tide had turned; but looking over the smooth channel, 
he could not see the splash of a fin or a silver body leaping 
in the air. He sat down on his canoe and waited. 

Splash! splash! beat the waves on the shore. There was 
not a ruffle on the water, yet the waves beat gently on the 
shore. Strange are the mysteries of earth, but far stranger 
and deeper are the mysteries of the great ocean. Who has 
not listened to its strange and eerie moaning without a desire 
to learn the secret of its distress — why its waves beat con- 
stantly on the shore, and what causes its continual grieving. 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 69 

The angler was soon aroused from his musings by a splash, 
and, looking up, he saw a great silvery form rise in the air; 
then another, and another. The canoe is launched with a 
run. Then the angler climbs over the stern, takes his seat 
in the bottom, and with a stroke of his paddle sends it swiftly 
darting over the water. On every side the silvery forms are 
now leaping. On every side circular rings on the water are wid- 
ening. Taking his spoon he casts it in the wake of the canoe, 
and it begins to spin as he moves slowly away. Scarcely does 
the paddle strike the water three times — scarcely thirty feet of 
the line has been paid out — when, swish! the line is almost 
jerked out of his hand. He seizes it in his teeth, drops on 
his knees, and with a backward stroke of his paddle sends 
the canoe astern. There are a series of jerks that almost 
loosen his teeth. Dropping his paddle in the center of the 
canoe, he again takes the line in both hands, and draws it 
toward him. It does not come easily, for at the end of it is 
a twenty-pound Kisutch, battling for life and liberty. At 
last he is drawn up to the side of the canoe, not exhausted in 
the least. What a beauty he is, with his blue back, his sides 
adorned with white, and his under-garments crimson! He 
has rather an intelligent look in his bright eye. Look out! 
he is making an effort to be off. He rushes up to the surface, 
folds his tail under him, and is in the air in an instant. Poor 
Kisutch! That is just what the angler wanted. There is a 
quick jerk on the line, and the Salmon comes flying into the 
canoe. A strong club is drawn and falls heavily across the 
Salmon's head. There is a quiver, and then all is still. • 

The hook is hastil}- released from his jaw and is again 
spinning in the wake of the canoe. Foot after foot of line is 
paid out, until one hundred and sixty feet are out. Then the 
angler, taking the line in his teeth, paddles swiftly away, but 
does not go far before the line is jerked from his mouth with 
such violence that for the instant he imagines his neck is 
broken. Luckily, the line is fastened to the thwarts of the 



•JO AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

canoe. Again the paddle is taken, and once more does the back- 
ward stroke send the canoe astern. The hne is swerving through 
the water with great velocit}-. Taking it in both hands, the 
angler begins to haul it in, hand over hand. Then a great 
Shad-like body leaps out of the water, shaking its head in a 
vain endeavor to loosen the hook from its jaw; but it is firmly 
caught. Again and again it leaps, but to no purpose; every 
moment it is drawn nearer and nearer to the canoe. At last 
it is swimming alongside. What a magnificent fellow it is! 
But it is far too large to try to jerk into the canoe if it does 
not spring, and it evidently has no idea of springing. With 
a sudden wave of its tail it goes boring down. Foot after 
foot of taut line is given it. All at once the pressure on the 
line ceases, and the angler begins to look blue. Has the 
hook broken.? No; not yet. Suddenl}' the line again swerves 
through the water with great speed. Hand over hand it is 
drawn in again. Then the great fish rushes to the top of the 
surface, and in a hurried succession of leaps throws himself 
in the air, as if dancing some aquatic jig. But a tight line is 
kept on him, and inch by inch he comes to the side of the 
canoe. At last he is drawn, helpless and gasping, within 
reach. A hand is inserted in his gills and he is thrown into 
the canoe, where a blow from the club ends his existence. 
He is a Tyee, and will weigh at least thirty-five pounds. 

A faint gleam of light rests on the crown of Mount Constitu- 
tion. Far across the gulf, the summits of the Olympics have 
caught the glow of the rising sun and gleam brightly in the 
early morning light. Afar off on the gulf are seen the sails of 
a ship, and trailing along the horizon is a long wreath of 
black smoke that indicates the course of an ocean steamer. 
Nearer at hand dark bodies are moving through the water; at 
frequent intervals a column of water rises high in the air. 
The dark objects are a school of whales at play. Around the 
canoe the air is filled with flashing and splashing creatures. 
The angler would not exaggerate if he should say that he saw 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 7 1 

a thousand Salmon in the air at once. When he has rested 
for a few moments he again takes his paddle, and the bait is 
again sent spinning behind him, only to be seized in a short 
time by another Salmon. 

This one, however, does not make the determined fight the 
others did. There is no singing of the line, no leaping in the 
air, no sounding beneath the canoe into ' the depths of the 
water. Hand over hand the sluggish fish is brought in, and 
with a jerk is launched in the canoe. It is a belated Nerka, 
who should have been with his unreturning brothers when 
they ascended the Frazer, months before. But if not a gamy 
fish, he is a palatable one, and the angler does not regret his 
delay. This specimen would weigh about ten pounds. 

There are other fishermen abroad this morning. The 
angler hears the swish of a paddle, and, looking up, sees an 
Indian in a small canoe. He salutes the angler with a "Kla- 
howa, tillicum." "Klahowa" is growled back at him. Then 
the Siwash paddles alongside the angler's canoe and introduces 
himself. 

"I am Klumukus," he says; "I am a very good man. Do 
you see where that smoke curls over the spit.'* There the 
man who married my sister lives. He is also a good man; 
he is a white man — his name is Ben of Kalamazoo. We are 
very dry — so dry that I fear we will soon die if we do not 
taste the fire-water of my white brother. When we saw your 
canoe, Ben said: 'Do you see that beautiful canoe.? See how 
grandly the man in it paddles. He is a great man — -he is a 
Hyas Tyee. No doubt he has many bottles of fire-water, and 
will gladly spare his white brother, Ben of Kalamazoo, and 
his red brother, Klumukus, one.' Brother, I have spoken." 

"Get out!" said the angler, and he turns his canoe abruptly 
from the tawny villain, who had kissed the Chinook blarney- 
stone, and is soon engaged in royal battle with a Kisutch. 
Nor does this fight last long, for the regal fish is soon 
gasping in the bottom of the canoe. This is repeated often 



72 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

before the report of a rifle comes sharply over the water from 
the tent, summoning the angler to breakfast. Soon, with long, 
swinging strokes of his paddle, he reaches the beach near the 
tent, springs ashore, and draws his canoe up on the beach. 
The fish are unloaded and counted, and he finds he has caught 
eighteen Salmon that will average sixteen pounds each. 

After breakfast he takes a hatchet and breaks up the dark- 
looking objects that he dug up in the sand the night before, 
which prove to be mussels, and scours the flesh white with 
sea-water and sand. Using these for a lure on his rude 
spoon, before noon he succeeds in catching twenty-four more 
Salmon. When the steamer calls for him the following even- 
ing, he has at least half a ton of Salmon carried on board. 

Think of it! O ye anglers who pay an exorbitant license 
to fish in the mosquito-haunted rivers of Canada! Here one 
man in two days has caught more Salmon (and he does not 
consider himself an expert angler) than you could have caught 
in a Canadian river in a whole season. Then remember 
that directly west, where the Northern Pacific, or the Union 
Pacific, or the Canadian Pacific Railway may land you in four 
days, lies a region that for beauty of scenery, for mildness of 
climate, and for absence of insect plagues, the world 
can never equal. Leave the insect-haunted rivers for old 
fogies, and seek an outing in the summer-land of sunset, and 
you will always bless the day you did so, and the man who 
advised you thus. 

You need not copy the rude methods of the man to whom 
I have introduced you. You may, if you will (but I do not 
advise it), bring with you your light, split-bamboo fly rod, 
your neatly turned Skinner or Buell spoon, your fifteen-thread 
Cuttyhunk line, and your Kentucky reel, and may enjoy the 
sport to your cultivated taste. 

True, our Salmon do not take the fly, but they are as gamy 
when hooked as your Canadian Salmon; our waters are as 
clear as your Canadian waters; our skies as bright as your 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 



73 




74 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Canadian skies, and the labor of angling here is as nothing 
compared to that of climbing over logs and bowlders, and 
tramping through jungles on your Canadian rivers. 

For thirteen seasons has the engineer caught the lordly 
Salmon after the ancient and honorable manner of the Puy- 
allups, the Dwuamishes, and the Lummies; which manner 
consists of attaching a chalk-line to a spoon cut out of a piece 
of tin, connected with a swivel. In connection with this 
outfit is a stout club with which the sportsman batters in the 
skulls of his victims. This is a very killing combination. 

Some kind individual, with malice aforethought, on the 
publication of my Salmon-fishing sketch a year ago, sent me 
an anonymous present of a fishing-rod, with reel and line 
attached. It was a very pretty rod, and bore the name of a 
popular eastern manufacturer. I felt proud of it, and ex- 
hibited it to all my sportsmen friends. But alas! it is gone, 
and should any brother sportsman in Alaska or Norway catch 
a Tyee Salmon with this rod in tow, he will confer a favor 
by returning it C. O. D. to Silalicum, Seattle, Washington, 
and he may keep the fish. 

The engineer will now proceed to unfold the growing horror 
of his tale. He will unveil the dire accident that caused him 
to lose his beautiful rod, and made him an object of mirth 
and ridicule to some hundreds of cosmopolitans who wit- 
nessed his degradation, and giggled, screamed, and chattered 
at his shame. 

The new-born day had dawned clear and fair. A breath 
of balm, wafted from fir and cedar forests, was in, the air, 
and a low north wind bore with it the fresh salt scent of the 
sea. The stars were dying in the blue, and far across the 
snow-crowned mountains in the east smiled the crimson blush 
of morning. A dreamy stillness lay over the earth, sleep 
ruled everywhere, and the busthng city lay wrapped in a 
dream of calm. 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. 75 

With rod in hand the engineer sought the boat-house, and 
a short time later was gliding noiselessly over the water in 
his Hyda canoe. Under wharves, among a fleet of all kinds 
of smaller crafts, he pursued his noiseless way, until he 
reached the city front. Then, threading among ships and 
steamers, riding peacefully at anchor, he at last found him- 
self alone on the bosom of the bay. When at sufficient dis- 
tance from the shore he jointed his rod and attached a spoon 
of his own construction to the line. Reeling off one hun- 
dred and sixty feet of line, he knelt in the bottom of the canoe, 
holding the rod between his knees, and began to paddle 
swiftly across the bay. 

The Hyda canoe is a craft peculiar to the northwest coast. 
Formed out of a log of cedar by slow and diligent chopping 
wath a crude adze in the hands of an Indian it becomes a 
thing of shape, balance, and beauty, that a white man can 
never successfully imitate. Superstition ever being prominent 
in the savage mind, the prows of these canoes are alwa5's shaped 
into one of the totems by which the different families of their 
tribes are designated — either the bear, the raven, or the wolf. 
The canoe that carried the engineer this fateful morning was 
about fifteen feet long and twenty inches beam. It was 
gayly decorated at the prow with a wolf-head that possessed 
two large, glaring eyes of an exceedingly yellow color. 

Evidently the Salmon were not hungr}-. The engineer pad- 
dled half-way across the bay, but the savage rush that tells 
that the Tyee is there was not telegraphed along the line. 
Other boats now joined him, and four great scows loaded with 
nets and Italians came creeping out from shore and anchored 
in the middle of the bay, about a quarter of a mile apart. 
Then the boats that had towed the scows out began to spread 
the nets, forming a half-circle around the scows, perhaps two 
hundred yards in extent. The foreign ruffians were evidently 
happy, for, as they spread their nets, they sang a song very 
much like this: 



'j6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

" We catcha plenta da salm; 

We catcha him ebera day; 
We sella him to da mon 

At da cannery ober da bay, 
Den we playa plenty da poka, 

When da daylight fada away." 

Boats of all kinds covered the bosom of the bay. All 
nations on the earth were represented in that motley assem- 
blage, from the tiny 'dot of an Indian girl in her little canoe, t» 
the English "Me Laud" in his whale-boat with six men at 
the oars. It was a good-natured, jolly sort of a mob, too, 
even if it was a heterogeneous one. In crossing and recrossing^ 
so often, lines would become entangled, but such mishaps were 
taken as unavoidable, and a commendable Christian spirit 
was displayed on such accidents occurring. 

The engineer, gazing down the bay, saw something flash in 
the air like the gleam of a silver scimeter. Hastily reeling 
in his line, he began to paddle strongly in that direction. 
The flashes then began to multiply by hundreds, and soon a 
great shining body leaped in the air at the very prow of the 
canoe, and fell with a heavy splash, leaving a widening ring 
on the hitherto unruffled mirror-like plain. A moment later 
the troll was spinning through the water, soon to be seized 
with a heavy twitch, and then the line began to hiss through 
the water and the reel to whir. 

Dropping his paddle in the bottom of the canoe, the engineer 
began "monkeying" with the Tyee at the other end of the 
string in the sportsman-like manner recommended by the dude 
sportsman of the effete East. A tight line was kept on him 
till at last his frantic leaps and rushes were ended, and he 
floated, gasping, at the side of the canoe. A boat containing 
a sickly-looking dude and two pretty girls fresh from cultured 
Boston now drifted alongside, and one of the ladies requested 
the privilege of landing the fish. The rod was passed to her, 
and after a little delay the victim was gaffed and lay flounder- 
ing in his last struggle in the bottom of the skiff. From the 



THE PACIFIC SALMON. "J"] 

strike until he was landed was fully twenty minutes. In the 
ancient aboriginal manner he would have been "taken in and 
done for" in one minute. Nineteen minutes of useful time 
wasted just to be in the fashionable swim! 

After presenting the young lady with the victim she had 
landed, the engineer paddled away, and soon joined the merry 
throng of anglers. A myriad of Salmon surrounded them, 
and but few of the two hundred or more boats that were in 
the fleet had failed to capture one or more Salmon. ' But in 
all that flotilla the engineer was the only one who attempted 
the scientific method. Striking a fish, he began to reel in or 
pay out his line, as the rushes of the fish required. Then 
the ridiculous appearance that he made became strongly 
apparent, when, after landing his quarry (a tiny fingerling of 
eight pounds), he became an object of ridicule and the sub- 
ject of much chaffing. Ancient squaws derided him as "cultus" 
(exceedingly bad or worthless). A weather-beaten old tar 
with one leg called him a dude, and said he was sorry for 
him. Chinamen smiled that bland smile that means certain 
death to the one smiled upon, especially if the smiler is a 
member of the noble order of Highbinders, and happens to 
have his Malay Kriss about him. People of many other 
nations made equally flattering remarks to him. Then he 
became indignant, said he would seek better company, and 
began to paddle sarcastically in the direction where some sea- 
hogs, or porpoises, were rolling in the straits. 

The course in which he was paddling brought him near one 
of the scows where the Italians were drawing a net. Four 
sturdy maccaroni-fed Romans were pulling on each end of 
the net, while two Greek patriots beat the water with wide 
oars, that made a great splashing, on the opposite side of 
the scow, in order to frighten any Salmon who might attempt 
to escape back into the net. The engineer waited until the 
net was drawn and the fishes tossed into the scow. In this 
draw over three hundred Salmon and one small Shark were 



78 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

captured. The latter, in endeavoring to escape, had torn the 
net, and many Salmon had escaped through the rent. When 
the poor sea-wolf was drawn upon the scow, the foreign gen- 
tlemen began to slash him savagely with their knives. After 
stabbing him in many places they cut off his fins, and then 
threw him overboard — a warning to all net-destroyers. 

A short distance from the scene of this tragedy the engineer 
hooked a Salmon and landed him without difficulty. This 
Salmon was a Nerka, and was a tame fish indeed. Like 
Crockett's 'coon, he just come in. This spiritless disgrace to 
the Salmon tribe was bestowed upon a hapless Chinaman 
who was greatly out of luck and had not caught a fish all 
morning. Here the engineer was joined by the Boston dude 
and his fair companions, who had been unsuccessful, not even 
having had a nibble all morning. There is certainly no gal- 
lantry among Salmon. Even death by such fair hands must 
be sweet. 

While the engineer was paddling slowly along, talking to 
the occupants of the skiff, he was aware of a strike — of a 
swift, sudden, determined strike. The rod was jerked until it 
bent in the arc of a circle, and the reel made a whir like that 
made by the wings of a frightened grouse. His line went zig- 
zagging through the water with great velocity. 

It may be easy enough to manage a fish in the dude style 
where the angler has plenty of sea-room, but it is no picnic to 
do so when one is in the center of two hundred or more boats. 
Still the engineer kept on playing his Salmon in true scientific 
style. When the line slackened he would speedily reel it in, 
and when the fish pulled strongly on the line he would 
allow the reel to run. He became the center of all curiosity. 
Every other boat suspended operations — the occupants vied 
one with the other in making uncharitable remarks. The 
low, guttural voices of the Indians could be heard as they 
muttered curses on the iconoclast who would upset old cus- 
toms. At last the Tyee was brought, gasping, to the side of 



THE PACIFIC SALMON, 79 

the carxoe, and the engineer, taking his gaff, reached carefully 
down, and was just in the act of hooking the fish, when, with 
a wave of its tail, it moved away to the leeward. The 
engineer leaned far over the side, and made a fearful sweep 
at it with his gaff, when his canoe glided from under him, 
and he saw the butt of his beautiful rod vanish in the water, 
as down, down he went. At last he returned to the surface, 
blew the water from his nostrils, and swam to his canoe. 

His reappearance was greeted with a chorus of howls that 
made the echoes ring. The Boston dude rowed his boat 
alongside, and the engineer, with the help of a hand extended 
by one of the ladies, clambered into the boat. 

The canoe was soon righted, and his paddle, that was float- 
ing on the water, secured. Then entering it, he paddled with 
downcast eyes and heavy heart through the flotilla of Salmon- 
fishers, and never stopped until he reached the boat-house. 
When he secured his canoe he went and danced a war-dance, 
sung a scalp-song, loud and wild, and since then no one has 
dared to ask him how he likes the dude way of catching 
Salmon. And around the Indian camp-fires the story is often 
told, how a cultus white man attempted to improve on the 
method of catching Salmon practiced by their fathers since 
by-gone ages, and how the spirit of the waters, angered at 

his conduct, dragged him from his canoe and almost drowned 
him. 




80 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON, OR WANANISHE. 



BY J. G. AYLWIN CREIGHTON, 



Synonyms. — Salmo Salar, variety Sebago; Sebago Salmon; Sebago Trout; 
Schoodic Salmon; Land-locked Salmon; Silfverlax; Salmo Argenteus; Win- 
anishe, Wananishe, or Ouinaniche. 

IT used to be an article of faith with naturalists and anglers 
that a Salmon — using the word in its every-day sense, 
not in the technical one of Salmo, which generic name 
includes many very different fish, some of them merely Trout — 
is a salt-water fish which comes into fresh-water rivers to 
spawn, and then returns to the sea, or, to use a convenient 
word, is anadromous. Hence the specific designation Salar. 
The older British writers on the Salmonidce seem never to 
have heard of any exception to this rule, or else, in referring 
to the question whether Salmon can make their home in fresh 
water, answer it with a decided negative; in a few instances 
quoting cases of fish dying under the experiment. 

Yet nothing in the range of observed facts relating to the 
Salmonidce — as to which the great modern English ichthyolo- 
gist, Gunther, observes that "The unusual attention which 
has been given to their study has revealed an almost greater 
amount of unexplained facts than of satisfactory solutions of 
the questions raised " — is better established now than the 
existence in certain parts of the United States, Canada, and 
Sweden of a Salmon which inhabits lakes, and is anatomically 
indistinguishable from the salt-water Salmon. The Land- 
locked Salmon of Maine have been well known for over fifty 
years. Mr. C. G. Atkins, superintendent of the Schoodic 
6 81 



82 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Salmon-breeding establishment, on Grand Lake Stream, says 
that it occurs only in four limited districts, all in Maine — the 
systems of the Presumpscot, the Sebec, the Union, which is a 
tributary of the Penobscot, and the St. Croix Rivers. Lake 
Sebago in the Presumpscot system furnishes the largest speci- 
mens and has given the name by which this fish is known 
to scientists, Salino Salar, variety Sebago. The Schoodic 
River, which is the west branch of the St. Croix, and into 
which Grand Lake discharges, is the origin of another and 
more popular name. Since the founding of the breeding 
establishment in 1875, the Schoodic Salmon have been widely 
distributed in the United States, with varying success. They 
have also been transported to Scotland and Germany, where 
they have done well. 

The Winanishe, Wananishe, or Ouinaniche, of the Upper 
Saguenay and the Lake St. John river system, has also been 
well known since the settlement of that region of the Province 
of Quebec, about 1850, and was familiar to the Indians and 
Hudson Bay Company's voyageurs long before then. The 
etymology of the name is unsettled, but is probably derived 
from the Cree root "wan," to lose or mistake, applied either 
to the fish having lost itself or being taken for a Salmon. 
Though Charles Hallock fished the Upper Saguenay, or 
Grande Decharge, as it is locally named, and described the 
Wananishe fifteen years ago, only a few anglers seem to have 
known either the fish or its habitat until lately. Their re- 
discovery by fishing tourists and sporting journals and the 
marvelous accounts given in railway and hotel advertise- 
ments are amusing to those who have made for many years 
a special study of the fish and region, but it is to be feared 
that they mark the beginning of the end of a peculiarly inter- 
esting game fish. 

The Wananishe and the Land-locked Salmon of Maine are 
identical, the only observable difference being a slight one in 
coloration. This is always an unimportant distinction, and 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 83 

in this instance does not amount to so much as is often found 
in Brook Trout inhabiting the same waters, to say nothing of 
the wide differences in color and form between Trout of differ- 
ent localities. 

The same fish occurs in several lakes in Nova Scotia, where 
it is erroneously called "Grayling," in Lock Lomond and 
other lakes in New Brunswick, and according to Mr. Hallock, 
in the lakes of Peterborough County, Ontario. It is possible 
that the Salmon, which within this generation's memory 
abounded in Lake Ontario, were also purely fresh-water fish. 
That at least is the opinion of Mr. Wilmot, the superin- 
tendent of the Canadian Government Fish Hatcheries, who 
has studied them all his life. The "Silfverlax," or Lake Sal- 
mon of Wenern and other Swedish lakes — the Salvia Argcii- 
tens of Swedish naturalists — corresponds very closely, both as 
to the descriptions of its appearance and the circumstances 
under which it is found, with the others above mentioned. 
In British Columbia, too, a lake Salmon is found, concerning 
which my information is at present too meager to enable me 
to say more than that it is highly probable that under similar 
circumstances some of the Pacific Salmon, admittedly quite 
distinct species from the Salino Salar of the Atjantic, have 
acquired a fresh-water habitat. In some of the rivers of 
Labrador, which are all simply the connections between, and 
discharges of, extensive lake systems, I found and identified, 
in 1889, my well-known friend, the Wananishe. It will, there- 
fore, be seen that the range of this fish, so far from being 
limited, is very extensive. The probability is that as oppor- 
tunities for skilled investigation multiply, it will be found in 
many other places. 

Three things are noteworthy about its distribution. It is 
always found at the head-waters of rivers to which Salmon 
actually resort now, or to which they are known to have 
resorted. Though in some places there are apparently in- 
superable obstacles in the way of its ascent from the sea, 



84 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

there is nowhere, so far as I can learn, any positive evidence 
that it cannot descend if it would. In every case the rivers 
are the outflow of large lakes which seem to be what the sea 
is to the salt-water Salmon. 

It is a vexed question whether or not the species was known 
in Maine before the erection of dams preventing the ascent 
of the Salmon, which once were so numerous in that State; 
there are no natural obstructions. In the Saguenay there are 
no high falls, none of them are perpendicular, and the rapids, 
though very strong, are by no means insuperable for Salmon, 
and, with intervals of quiet water, extend only some forty 
miles from tide-water. In New Brunswick the obstructions 
are artificial, and have been made within the memory of man. 
At Grand Lake, Nova Scotia, the communication with the sea 
is direct by the Shubenacadic River, in its lower reaches, a 
muddy, tidal stream. In other Nova Scotian localities, dams 
may have cut off the connection. In the Stony Lake Chain 
of Peterborough County, Ontario, there is rather a round- 
about, but, on the whole, an unobstructed connection with 
Lake Ontario, and thence directly with the sea by way of the 
St. Lawrence. The rapids between Kingston and Montreal 
could be ruH by without difficulty, but the journey from salt 
water is a long one, and it is many years since a Salmon is 
known to have been caught in the St. Lawrence or any of its 
tributaries further up than the Jacques Cartier River, a few 
miles above Quebec, and now the most westerly Salmon 
stream in the Province. In Sweden the Trolhattan Falls, 
five in number, with a total height of one hundred and twenty 
feet, in a narrow gorge, are admittedly impassable for Salmon. 
In British Columbia, the access to the Kootenai lakes is 
obstructed by a heavy fall which may have been surmountable 
at times; but Salmon may also have found their way into 
these lakes, at periods of extraordinarily high water, through 
the marshy belt, only two miles wide, which separates the 
Kootenai River above the lakes from the Upper Columbia. 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 85 

In the Labrador rivers there are ranges of falls near the sea, 
to get over which the Salmon have to await suitable stages of 
water; in some instances these falls are almost insurmount- 
able, but in most cases there are large, deep lakes above them 
abounding in tish-food, and connected by stretches of swift 
water, broken by falls and rocky rapids. 

"Land-locked," therefore, is rather a misnomer, if it is 
meant to imply any natural and involuntary restriction upon 
a return to the sea. But as all other designations are merely 
local names, and it is hard to find a satisfactory one, it may 
as well be retained. 

It remains to be seen how far it is true that these so-called 
Land-locked Salmon would not go to the sea if they could. 
Mr. George F. Boardman, in a letter to Mr. Hallock, given in 
full in the Sportsiiiaii' s Gazetteer, states that in his boy- 
hood they were plentiful in most of the rivers of the Bay of 
Fundy, as well as along the State of Maine; that they were 
common to the tide-waters, and were taken as far down as 
there were fish- weirs. Mr. C. G. Atkins says: 

"There is nothing at present to prevent any of these Salmon 
going out to sea from any of those waters where they are 
now found. There are no obstructions to their coming back 
if they once went to the sea; and these same obstructions 
would prevent the sea Salmon having access to the upper 
waters where the Land-locked Salmon now live." 

As Dr. Francis Day observes, it is certainly remarkable that 
among the Scandinavian land-locked races some are found 
in a number of lakes with broad outlets into the sea. This 
exactly corresponds with my own observations in Labrador, 
where I found the Saluio Scbago in tidal but fresh water, as 
well as at the outlet of the lakes, and in company with the 
true Salmon and Grilse, which gave an admirable opportunity 
of direct comparison of the two varieties. I was fortunate in 
having with me a Saguenay canoe-man, in whose company I 
had caught many a Wananishe. The first of the Labrador 



86 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

specimens he recognized at once with great dehght, as he 
had been entertaining his incredulous companions with stories 
of the fighting powers of the little Salmon of Lake St. John. 
The other men, natives of the coast, old Salmon fishermen, 
able to tell at sight fish from different rivers, were puzzled at 
the difference in color and general appearance of the fish, but 
never questioned its being a small Salmon. The external 
difference between it and the Grilse, a large run of which we 
were then having, was equally noticeable. 

In the Upper Saguenay there is nothing whatever to pre- 
vent the descent of the fish to the sea; the way is direct, broad, 
and easy, as compared with some Salmon rivers. There is 
a tremendous rush of water in the rapids, but the strongest of 
them all, the Grande Chute, is the one by which the fish 
descend from Lake St. John. As a matter of fact, large 
numbers of Wananishe are to be seen in the brackish water of 
the tide-way at Chicoutimi every spring at the time of the 
heavy freshets, and may be caught at the head of the tide just 
below the first rapids from that time till the ice sets in; stray 
ones are found in the Salmon streams tributary to the Lower 
Saguenay, in the salt water at Tadoussac, and a couple were 
taken in the St. Lawrence just above the Saguenay. 

Whether these Saguenay fish reascend from the tide-way is 
as yet undetermined. In 1883 and 1885 I marked several 
hundred, but have never heard of them again. The modes 
adopted — cutting a hole with a punch in the dorsal fin, and 
snipping off a portion of the adipose fin — are unreliable, for 
the fins of fish grow like one's finger-nails, and lacerations 
soon heal, but they were the only means available at the 
time. A systematic series of experiments by marking fish 
with numbered tags of platinum, attached to the dorsal fin by 
platinum wire, is much to be desired. The recapture of a 
very few fish thus identifiable would probably solve the whole 
problem of their movements, and shed much light on the 
questions as to the origin and permanency of the species. 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 8/ 

The rivers which flow into Lake St. John all contain Wana- 
nishe, which, however, do not ascend them in any ^reat num- 
ber till the autumn. The ova are well developed at the end 
of September, and the fish are then on their way to the 
spawning-beds, which are, as in the case of the Salmon proper, 
gravelly shallows with a steady current over them. The 
spawning season is at the end of October. The spring move- 
ment of the fish from Lake St. John down into the Grande 
Decharge, and the autumn movement up into the rivers flow- 
ing into the lake, correspond with the spring and autumn 
migrations observed at Schoodic Lake by Mr. Atkins. A 
number of the fish, however, remain in the Grande Decharge 
and evidently breed there and in its small tributary streams, 
for the adults can be caught through the ice, and I have taken 
parr and smolts at almost every part of the Grande Decharge. 
These, however, may possibly have come down with the 
spring freshets. On the other hand, I have repeatedly taken 
adults there in September with milt and ova well developed; 
the change of coloration, hooked lower jaw, indifference to 
food, sluggish movements, and all the other characteristics 
of Salmon near spawning-time, were well marked in them. 

The Wananishe reach their greatest size in that region in 
the large lakes connecting with the rivers that flow into the 
north side of Lake St. John after long courses over numer- 
ous and very high falls. In Lake Tshistagama or Sautagama, 
on the Peribonca River, the water is deep, cold, and abounds 
with small food-fish. The Wananishe will not rise to the fly in 
the lakes, but are readily caught with bait, a spoon, or the 
artificial minnow. Specimens from this lake, weighing from 
five to seven pounds, were found gorged with young White- 
fish and another small fish, apparently a species of Smelt 
{Osmeriis), but too much decomposed to be precisely iden- 
tified. I observed a peculiar circumstance in connection 
with these Wananishe on the Peribonca River, in Septem- 
ber, 1885, at the Chute au Diable, a fall of about eighty feet 



88 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

in height, divided by an island into two branches, one 
of which is perpendicular, the other broken into steps. In a 
small deep hole half-way up the latter, I caught five Wananishe 
of from two and one-half to four and one-half pounds in weight, 
which were apparently spawning. The ova and milt exuded 
when the fish were handled; the noses of the fish were abraded 
as when they turn up gravel to form their beds, and the 
ovaries of one of the females were half emptied. It was 
earlier than the usual spawning-time, and on the most unlikely 
spawning-ground that could be imagined. I should not even 
have suspected the presence of any fish there. 

We were returning from a long journey up the river, and 
had run out of provisions altogether. One of the men whom 
I had set to work to catch something, somehow, threw his 
bait into this hole casually, on his way down to the foot of 
the fall, and had a rise from a large fish. As anxious a day's 
fishing as I ever did succeeded this. A wary cast of a Jock 
Scott brought a fish to look at the fly, and turn back deliber- 
ately. After a half-hour interval he came again. Every fly 
in the book, and every dodge I knew, were pitted against the 
provoking indisposition of those Wananishe to be caught. At 
last it became a matter of personal pride as well as of hunger. 
Eventually artfulness and patience triumphed, and an interest- 
ing discovery, as well as a good supper, resulted; but it was 
hard to take measurements and notes of those fish before 
handing them to the cook. 

The size of the Land-locked Salmon varies a good deal,- in 
different waters, but is pretty uniform in each locality. 
According to Mr. Atkins, the Sebago and Union fish are larger 
than those of the Sebec and St. Croix. The Sebago fish 
average at spawning-time four or five pounds for the males, 
and a pound less for the females; but specimens running as 
high as twelve or fourteen pounds are not rare, and there is a 
record of one weighing seventeen and one-half pounds. The 
Union River fish are about the same size as those of Sebago. 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 89 

The St. Croix fish vary in si^e at different parts of the 
water system in which they are found; those of the Schoodic 
River and Grand Lake Stream, where they are most numerous 
and where the hatchery is situated, average a Httle less than 
three pounds; specimens over six pounds are rare, and there 
is no record of anything over ten pounds. It appears that 
the average size in Grand Lake Stream increased to about 
four pounds between 1875 and 1884. These fish, however, 
were the ones specially taken for breeding purposes by Mr. 
Atkins, and therefore would probably be large; and owing to 
their protection for nine years, there would naturally be a 
greater number to select from. 

The Lake Wenern Salmon of Sweden, like the larger of the 
Sebago examples, are equal to sea Salmon in size. Dr. Day 
gives the lengths of a couple examined by him as thirty-one 
and thirty-three inches, and other accounts show that they 
run from seven to twenty pounds. 

The Nova Scotia and New Brunswick fish are small — the 
latter especially; a couple of pounds is a good weight for 
them, but the waters in which they occur are comparatively 
restricted in area, and they are much fished. Hallock states 
that he has seen specimens of the Salmon from the Stony Lake 
Chain, in Ontario, weighing twenty pounds. This — curiously 
enough, for it is the nearest to me — is the only one of the 
"Land-locked Salmon," besides the Swedish variety, that I 
have not personally examined; but I have never been able to 
visit the region during the fishing season, and cannot succeed 
in getting a specimen. I sometimes think Mr. Hallock's fish 
must have been the true Salmon of Lake Ontario, now all but 
extinct. In spite of efforts to preserve them, and to propagate 
them by artificial breeding, which promised for a time to be 
successful, the changed conditions of the streams, owing to 
the clearing and settlement of the country, have been fatal. 

It is worth noting that, though game and game fishes can 
and do survive civilization in Europe, they soon disappear 



90 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

on this continent, under conditions that seem more favorable. 
Trout and Salmon manage to exist in British streams bris- 
tling with nets, weirs, dams, and all manner of destructive 
engines, and polluted by sewage and the refuse of manufact- 
ories, but in America, once the country is cultivated, they van- 
ish. The preservation of their spawning-grounds in the nat- 
ural condition, if they can get there at all, is probably the 
reason in the former case. In England the change in 
rain-fall, due to the disappearance of forests, can never have 
been so great as it is in America. 

The Lake St. John and Saguenay fish average a little 
over two and one-half pounds. Four-pound fish were 
numerous enough a few years ago, but anything over that 
size is large, and only occasionally will a six-pounder 
be found. Out of many thousands I have seen but one 
seven-pound fish; it was twenty-seven inches in length, 
and a very lank specimen. If properly filled out, it 
would have weighed nine or ten pounds. This solitary in- 
stance gives one some faith in the stories of the large size of 
the Wananishe when the region was first settled, forty years 
ago. Occasionally very large ones are seen feeding by them- 
selves, but they are extremely wary, and there is no authentic 
record of one above seven pounds, though the late Senator 
David Price, of Chicoutimi, is said to have caught one of 
eleven pounds in weight. 

I did not get enough of the Labrador fish to establish an 
average, but I imagine them to be large, because of the abun- 
dance of food, great area of the lakes, and freedom from dis- 
turbance. My specimens varied from a quarter of a pound to 
six and one-half pounds. The Indians said much larger fish 
were plentiful far up the rivers, but we all know how that is 
ourselves. 

As my own observations have been chiefly of the Wananishe, 
I will confine myself to the appear.ance and dimensions of this 
variety, which stgree very closely with those of the Schoodic 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 9I 

Salmon as described by Mr. Atkins. The Wananishe is a 
much longer fish, and altogether larger, in proportion to his 
weight, than is the Brook Trout, as the following figures show: 

2-j; i J a 

o < o <" * i 

Z O H " ^ i 

< M ° Z 2 

Kb M Q W ■* 

SO 0, > 

I. Sahno Sala-r — Jordan & Gilbert 11 11 9 

3. Salmo Sebago — Hamlin r2 15 I2 9 10 

3. H'anunishe — Lake St. John. 11 14 12 g 10 

4 Wanuiiislit- — Labrador 12 11 9 

5. Sah't'linus XiiinaycKsh — Jordan & Gilbert 11-12 11 11 

6. Sah't'linus fontinalis — Jordan & Gilbert 10 9 

Specimens under a pound are rare, and are found in shallow 
water and small streams. It was a long time before I suc- 
ceeded in getting a Wananishe parr, even in water which I 
knew to be just below favorite spawning-grounds. They are 
almost indistinguishable from Salmon parr, and are probably 
taken for small Trout, if ever observed at all. The four- 
ounce fish have already put on the silvery livery of the smolt, 
through which the transverse bands of the parr-marking 
show distinctly. In specimens of from a pound to a pound 
and one-quarter the silver scales rub off easily, and the parr- 
bands are to be seen even on fish up to two pounds in weight. 
Mr. Atkins states that the marks are distinct on the under 
side of the skin of adult fish of the Schoodic variety. This per- 
sistency of the parr-marking is considered by him to be evidence 
of arrested development, and perhaps rightly so, when we con- 
nect with it the fact, established by the Howietoun experi- 
ments,' that the parr and smolt of the sea Salmon, both male 
and female, when bred and raised entirely in fresh water, can re- 
produce their species, and that their progeny again are fertile. 

As to shape, the Wananishe is a perfect Salmon, only a 
dwarf; and the highest ichthyological authorities on both sides 
of the ocean are agreed that there is no difference of anatomy 
between Sabno Sa/ar and Salmo Sebago. I have myself dis- 
sected many specimens of sea Salmon and Wananishe, but can 
detect no permanent or tangible mark of difference between 
them. 



92 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

The preoperculum, or small bone at the back of the gill 
cover, has the rounded corner characteristic of the Salmon. 
The system of dentition in the Wananishe is precisely that 
of Salmo Salar, but the teeth are larger and more numerous 
on the vomer and palatines. This is probably a case of specific 
adaptation, as the Wananishe lives much on small fish, and 
unlike the sea Salmon when the latter is in fresh water, is 
continually feeding. In some specimens I have found a few 
teeth on the hyoid bone, though Jordan & Gilbert ("Synop- 
sis of the Fishes of North America," 1882, p. 311), following 
Gunther, give the absence of hyoid teeth as a characteristic 
of the genus Salar. 

The number of spinal vertebrae is 59-60; of csecal append- 
ages, I have counted from 50-60 in different specimens. 

There are 120 rows of scales along the lateral line, 11-12 in 
a line from the edge of the adipose fin to the lateral line, 
which, if continued, would pass just above the pupil of the eye, 
and is well marked. 

The fins are proportionately much larger than in the sea 
Salmon, especially the tail, which is deeply forked in the young 
fish, but only slightly lunate in large adults. In a five-pound 
specimen it will have a spread of seven or eight inches; in a 
three-pound fish, six inches. The dorsal is high and broad, 
the pectorals long. The adipose fin is unusually large. 

The number of branchiostegal and fin rays has long been 
abandoned as a specific criterion, but the following compari- 
son shows the similarity in this respect between the various 
species: 



LENGTH OVER ALL 


GIRTH AT DORSAL. 


WEIGHT. 


TO END OF 


TAIL. 


INCHES. 


LBS. 


oz. 


814 




3% 




4 


9y2 




" 4/8 




6 


12 




6 




10 


15 




7% 


I 





18 




9 


2 


2 


22 




loH 


3 


4 


23'/^ 




^iM 


4 


2 


25!-^ 




T-XV^ 


4 


8 


25 




12 


5 


4 


26 




13 


6 






The eye is remarkably large, about three-quarters of an 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 93 

inch in diameter in the adult, with a pupil a quarter of an 
inch in diameter. These measurements are much greater 
than in the sea Salmon of fifteen to twenty pounds weight. 

In the young fish the back is of a bluish olive when just 
-out of water, turning into a silverish steely blue, which changes 
to silver below the medial line. The belly is pure white. 
The back is thickly maculated with black oval spots, not ver- 
niculated as in Trout. On specimens under a half-pound, 
there are no X-marks on the sides, but seven small, round, 
bright scarlet spots evenly spaced along the medial line, with 
an additional one just above the pectoral fin. The dark blue 
parr-bandings are eight in number, and about three-eighths of 
an inch wide; the head is deep bluish green, inclining to black; 
the gill covers silver, with olive and green shading. Upon 
the operculum are two or three irregular, dusky olive, purple 
and green patches, and two or three deep black, perfectly 
circular spots of small size. The throat and branchiostegals 
are white, shaded with dusky gray, inclining to lead color. 
There are some blackish spots along the base of the dorsal, 
but none on the tail. The adipose fin is blackish blue. 

In the fresh-run adult the color runs from deep black on the 
back, through bluish green on the sides, to silvery green at 
the medial line, and silvery white below that. When the fish 
is just out of the water the body-color is very iridescent, show- 
ing green and purple bronze with a tint of rose. The oval 
spots on the back are so black and run so closely together as 
to be hardly distinguishable when the fish has been a short 
time out of water, but in the living fish, observed underwater 
in a good light, they show plainly upon the olive ground-color. 
The head is deep black on top. The ground-color of the gill 
covers is a deep-green bronze, with patches of dark purple and 
greenish and blackish bronze on the operculum, which has 
also three or four circular black spots of varying sizes, and 
generally one large irregular-shaped black spot on it. The lower 
jaw and throat, to the gills, are of a leaden gray in fine dots, 



94 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

thickly spread on a white ground. Adults are all marked on 
the body with black spots, either irregular quadrilaterals or 
double X's, not the single X of the Atlantic Salmon. These 
spots do not come much below the medial line, and vary a 
great deal in number and size in individuals. They do not 
show on the gill covers, tail or dorsal fin, but the latter is 
usually thickly covered with circular black spots. 

The coloring varies somewhat with locality, age, and season, 
but there is no marked difference of it in the sexes, except at 
breeding-time, when the male, as in other SalmonidcE, is much 
the brighter hued. In neither sex, however, is the change 
so great as it is in Salnio Salar. The body color becomes 
yellow or reddish, the white dirty, and the spots turn to 
rusty purplish brown. The hooked lower jaw, loss of condi- 
tion, poor quality of flesh, indisposition to feed, and sluggish- 
ness of temperament, that characterize the spawning Salmon, 
are well marked in the Wananishe. 

The qualities of the Wananishe as a game fish will interest 
brother anglers more than his scientific relationship and pecul- 
iarities. After a long and varied acquaintance with Salmon 
and Trout in Canadian waters, from Prince Edward Island 
and Nova Scotia to the Pacific Slope, I say unhesitatingly that, 
though Wananishe-fishing has been absurdly exaggerated, 
it is unsurpassed either in charm of surroundings, its varied 
and exciting nature, the skill required, or the fighting powers 
of the fish itself. With a curious combination of the habits 
of both Salmon and Trout, he has ways of his own that re- 
quire studying. As he lives in the strongest of water and has 
an omniverous appetite, his fins and tail are greatly developed, 
so that by constant training he is an athlete even among the 
Salmonidce. A two-pounder will fight like a Grilse, and a four 
or five pounder, fresh run, gives as much sport as a ten-pound 
Salmon. 

Although at most times, especially when they are lying in 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 95 

large schools in the eddies on the border of the main current 
of the great rapids of the Grande Decharge, Wananishe take 
the fly readily, they are as wary and capricious as any other 
of their genus, and as much affected by change of weather or 
character and amount of food. 

In the early season, whether fishing from shore or 
from the canoe, the flies and the methods of casting and 
working them used in Salmon-fishing are the most successful, 
allowance being made for the peculiarity in feeding hereafter 
to be noticed. As a rule, small-sized Salmon flies are the besjt, 
say No. 4 and No. 6 O'Shaughnessy sizes on single hooks; 
but at high water, and even at other times, a large fly is often 
successful. The Jock Scott, Curtis or Black Dose, Black 
Fairy, Popham, Silver Doctor, and Donkey are all good. 
The first-named is almost infallible; indeed, I sometimes 
think that with variations in size one needs no other fly for 
Salmon, Wananishe, and really large Trout like those of the 
Laurentian wilds of the Nepigon, and the sea Trout of some 
Canadian rivers, except a large brown hackle for the Trout, and 
this is not to be scorned as a Salmon fly, when the charms of 
golden pheasant crest and jungle-cock fail, . though, oddly 
enough, it is not much good for Wananishe. Red is not a favor- 
ite color with them; yellow and black is the best combination, 
and gray with a yellowish body comes next. Among the 
larger Trout flies, Queen of the Water, the Professor, and the 
Grizzly King usually do good work. 

Later in the season, when the fish are lying singly in deep 
water along the rocks, or in small pools among the rapids, all 
one's skill is required to entice them. If you understand the 
fine art of dry fly-fishing, and can maneuver a tiny dun on 
a twelve or thirteen hook so as to look like the real article, 
and can also handle large fish on the fine tackle required, 
you will get good sport and the satisfaction which comes 
of catching fish as Reynolds mixed his colors — with brains. 
If not, you will have to fall back on live grasshoppers and 



96 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

stone flies, and the reflection that you conquer your antagonist 
by his carnal weakness, not by your own skill. Wananishe 
will take bait, but as worms do not live in Laurentian syenite, 
the habitant fisherman uses a bit of the Wananishe itself. 
The eye, trolled behind a canoe, is sometimes very deadly, and 
the jumping a large fish will do when he has swallowed the 
eye of one of his brethren with a hook in it, is almost sufficient 
excuse for such an abuse of angling. The spoon is another 
favorite bait of the habitant, but it soon frightens all the fish 
that have seen its effects. The artificial minnow trolled suc- 
ceeds well sometimes. I have no doubt that a live or dead 
minnow, spun in the style of Thames Trout-fishing — one of 
the most artistic modes of angling, though very little known 
and rarely practiced on this side of the Atlantic — would prove 
successful when the fish will not take fly. 

The choice of rods and tackle depends on the kind of angler 
using them. I have seen fishermen catching Wananishe with 
a so-called "Grilse rod," sixteen feet long, which most 
people would consider a rather heavy Salmon rod, and 
others handle the same-sized fish easily with a seven-ounce 
Trout rod. A rod strong enough to recover a long line quickly 
in a heavy current, and with good killing powers, is necessary, 
for Wananishe are stubborn fighters, and require to be given 
the butt hard. The size of the line will depend, of course, on 
that of the rod, but there should be plenty of it — fifty yards 
at least, and one is safer with seventy-five, in view of long 
runs. The use of a thirty-yard line spliced to a much finer 
"business line," as is customary in Salmon-fishing, will avoid 
the necessity for a reel disproportionate to the weight of the 
rod, if this be light. 

The casting-line, or "leader," as Americans call it, should be 
of strong, even Salmon-gut. There is a great deal of wear and 
tear on casting-lines from the action of the water, and a good 
allowance is required for sudden strains from the fish leaping 
when the line is short and taut. But for these considerations 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 97 

the finer the leader the better, and this is true of all fly-fishing. 
As to color, there is not much to be said. Personally, I prefer 
undyed gut, which soon loses its glitter and gets a satisfactory 
stain from the water itself, which in the Saguenay, though 
clear, is of a tawny amber. 

Avoid cheap reels; get a good one, and have it rather large, 
with good, free-running bearings and a moderate click, just 
enough to prevent over-running. 

A landing-net is handier, and for these small fish surer 
than a gaff, which only one man in a hundred can use prop- 
erly, and only one in a thousand well. 

There is no wading to be done in fishing for Wananishe — the 
Saguenay is too large, deep, and strong; therefore rubber boots 
or wading trousers are superfluous, and, moreover, are danger- 
ous in case of an upset canoe or a slip from the rocks. As a rule, 
there would not be much chance in either case, for on the 
Grande Decharge, which is about as unlike ordinary Salmon 
or Trout water as can well be imagined, the best fishing is on 
the verge of tremendous rapids, and sometimes in the most 
dangerous parts of them. 

This brings me to one of the greatest charms of Wananishe- 
fishing — its excitement, with an element of danger — and to the 
peculiarity in the feeding habits of the fish which was alluded 
to above. When they come down from Lake St. John 
they lie in the large eddies formed by the innumerable cur- 
rents running in every direction — up, down, and across the 
course of the river, round the islands and points along 
the great rapids. When at rest they rise like Salmon 
from the bottoms of the pools, if this word may be used to 
describe their favorite places, which are very different from 
Salmon-fishing pools, or "streams," to use the more descrip- 
tive Scotch term, and nothing at all like the ordinary idea 
of a Trout pool. 

They will come from a great depth for the fly. Often, 
when looking down from a high rock into fifteen feet of water, I 
7 



98 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

have seen a Wananishe rise from the bottom Hke a flash and 
take the fly before I could pull it away. Periodically during 
the day they move round the pools, going from one to another 
along the current lines and circling round all the eddies in each, 
to feed on the flies and other insects that are thick in the 
broad patches of foam which swirl along in the currents, and 
sometimes chasing schools of small fish. The number of flies 
that a Wananishe will thus collect in the course of a day is 
almost incredible. I have repeatedly seen nearly half a pint 
of them in the stomach and intestines of a four-pound fish. 

The porpoise-like roll of the fish when thus on the tour is 
peculiar and characteristic; while their dorsal fins and broad 
tails, appearing and disappearing with clock-like regularity, 
make their presence visible at once. It requires a good deal 
of practice to determine the direction of their movements, 
still more to time and place the cast properly. All the while 
the canoe is moving also — perhaps just between the up and 
down current on the verge of a big rapid. 

As the water gets lower, the largest fish move out to and 
lie in places to fish which it is necessary to depend on the 
nerve and skill of your canoe-men, and their quick judgment 
of the set of the varying currents, to keep the canoe there 
by the use of the paddles only. Very often this is the sim- 
plest part of the business, and the return journey means run- 
ning along rapids or making a tough portage along the face of 
the rocks. The novice, or a person unaccustomed to the small 
bark canoes necessarily used in that region, should not 
attempt this sort of fishing; but it is to other angling what 
the pursuit of large game is to ordinary shooting. I am 
speaking here of parts of the Grande Decharge which the 
average tourist never sees, and is not likely to venture into 
if he does see them. Thoug:h lacking the element of danger, 
the ordinary fishing in the large rcmous — as the big eddies 
or pools are called, in the French patois of the region — will 
prove exciting enough. 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 99 

A pleasant variety will be found in a clamber over the rocks 
along the rapids, at times high up above the water, and drop- 
ping the fly into some snug little corner where the constantly 
recurring tail in a circular patch of foam shows a Wananishe 
"at home;" at others standing on a ledge over which the waves 
roll knee-deep and break on the rocks with a roar like the 
surf on the sea-shore, which drowns your attendant's voice 
and reduces him to pantomimic expression of the size or num- 
ber of the fish rising far out in some caldron-like whirl, where 
the down and up rush of the waters meet, while you do your 
best by the Spey or switch-cast to get the fly to them without 
smashing it on the rocks behind. The high-tossed spray from 
the crests of the waves, the seething whirlpools and the play 
of light and color on the ever-changing forms of water, on the 
varied foliage, and on the purple rocks, make a beautiful scene, 
to which the turmoil of the rapids adds its musical charm. 

If you did not see them with your own eyes you would be- 
lieve it impossible for any fish to remain in such a fury of 
water, far less to feed there; but hook one, and then see how 
much at his ease he is, and how he will stem the full rush 
of the Grande Chute, dragging thirty or forty yards of line 
after him. 

It was while watching a Wananishe hooked at the head 
of Isle Maligne, round which the fiercest rapids in the Grande 
Decharge sweep, that I first fully realized their great strength 
and greater pluck. Standing thirty feet above the water, I 
could see him plainly in the clear, deep stretches between the 
white-crested rollers; and a beautiful sight it was to watch 
him mount a series of inclines with straight steps of three to 
four feet at the top of each, and then, after resting a while 
on the summit of the fall, dart off like a flash into the full 
strength of the down-current on the other side of the point, 
only to be steered into a little cove at the end of his run, and 
there fight till, all strength gone, he lay exhausted on the sur- 
face. 



lOO • AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Then again, when eye and ear are weary of the incessant 
roar and flash of the rapids, there is a restful change in the 
picturesque stretches filled with islands, where you may or 
may not, according to luck and the state of the water, get 
some pretty fishing, either in the calm, smooth water out in the 
middle or along the channels between the islands, which will 
remind you of pleasant days spent on some favorite Trout 
lake, or wandering along the banks of a sequestered stream. 

The worst of these broad expanses is that they are great 
breeding-places for Pike [Esox Lucius, Jordan & Gilbert), 
better known, but incorrectly, in the United States, as Pick- 
erel. Though handsome enough in their own coarse way to 
be a good game fish in their proper place, they destroy the 
Wananishe terribly. They lurk in the still water of the bays 
into which the Wananishe wander in search of food, and even 
get out into quiet holes in the rapids. Many of the larger 
Wananishe bear marks of having slipped through these pirates' 
teeth. 

I once saw a five and one-half pound fish swimming about in 
an odd and helpless manner, and found that his spine had been 
broken by a Pike so that he could not use his tail. In 1887 
I was fishing off the rocks at the Grande Chute, and hooked a 
Wananishe which proved to weigh just less than a pound. Not 
particularly caring about such a small fish, I let him wander 
off while v>^aiting for my canoe-man to bring the landing-net. 
On reeling in, the weight seemed to have increased in an ex- 
traordinary manner. I at first thought the fish had fouled 
something; but a rush like a Salmon's changed that idea into 
great curiosity. After an anxious twenty-five minutes, for 
the fish several times tried to bolt into the main current, and 
there were some awkward rock ledges close in, he turned out 
to be a Pike, and a good-sized one. Once within reach he 
was easily netted, and was found to weigh ten and one-half 
pounds. The Wananishe was in his gullet, but the hook had 
slipped out of the Warianishe's mouth and caught in the socket 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 10! 

of the Pike's eye inside. I have always wondered why the 
leader was not cut by his teeth, but suppose it got between 
them. These Pike run to great size in Lake St. John, and up 
the Peribonca. 

The "Wall-eyed Pike" {Lucioperca Americana, Gunther; 
Stizostediiun Vitreiini, Jordan & Gilbert), called in Canada 
Dore, from his golden yellow sides, is also rather too abundant 
in these waters. Though the lakes in the Saguenay region 
and the upper parts of the rivers tributary to Lake St. John 
and the Saguenay abound with Trout, there are none in Lake 
St. John itself, nor in the lower portions of its tributaries 
and the Grande Decharge. In the latter there seems to be too 
much water for them in the rocky parts of the river, and in 
the calm reaches the bottom and banks are too clayey. An- 
other reason for their absence is probably the high summer 
temperature of the water in Lake St. John, which is simply 
a vast evaporating-pan, being comparatively shallow in pro- 
portion to its area of about six hundred square miles, and 
with a bottom of sand and silt washed down by the dozen 
rivers, three of them very large and over two hundred miles 
long, which discharge into it. 

That a true Salmon like the Wananishe inhabits such water, 
is another instance of its curious variation in habits, and a 
proof of adaptation to changed conditions. This is a subject 
which I should have liked to discuss here, especially in view 
of the growing idea I have, which is confirmed to some extent 
by the results of the accurate and instructive experiments in 
artificial breeding by Sir James Maitland, at the Howietoun 
establishment in Scotland, by the results at the Canadian 
Government's fish hatchery at Tadoussac, and by observa- 
tion of Salmon rivers, that the Salmon may not be necessarily 
an anadromous fish, but is only so from choice, just as the 
Trout of Long Island and many other places are, and that, 
under certain circumstances of difficulty of descent, combined 
with abundance of food in large bodies of fresh water, it — or 



I02 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

at all events its offspring — may prefer to remain in fresh 
water, the change in habits and in appearance taking place 
much more quickly than has hitherto been supposed, and the 
dwarfing in size not taking more than a generation or two. 

The variation in the size of Trout bred, under different con- 
ditions, from the same batch of ova, and the well-known dif- 
ference in the size of Salmon in different rivers, are other 
arguments for this view, which w^ould dispose of the "land- 
locking" theory, already shown above as being quite contrary 
to the facts. This subject would, however, require a paper 
to itself. I will only add that Sir James Maitland has found 
that Salmon bred in lakes and not able to go to the sea, if 
there were no charr for them to feed upon, seldom exceeded 
four or five pounds in weight, and that Quinnat Salmon, from 
the Pacific Coast, bred by Mr. Samuel Wilmot at the Canadian 
hatcheries, when confined all their lives to the narrow limits 
of the breeding-tanks, have become mature Salmon and repro- 
duced their species, though not attaining a greater length than 
eight or nine inches, while others more favorably situated 
have reached the ordinary size. 

Any one who wants to study the Land-locked Salmon of 
Lake St. John and the Saguenay will have to hasten, for the 
opening of the region to fish-markets and to tourists, by a rail- 
way, threatens their speedy extinction, to which the careless 
greed of settlers and the apathy of the government of the Prov- 
ince of Quebec are contributing greatly. Already it is hard to 
get a day's sport in water which formerly teemed with them. 
From what I have said of their habits, it will be easily un- 
derstood that the so-called "pools" were always very few in 
proportion to the actual extent of water in the forty miles 
length of the Grande Decharge. One consolation in this is, 
that, as all the best water is private property, it can be and is 
guarded carefully. But this does not preserve the spawning- 
grounds. 

Only ten years ago there was no limit to the number of fish 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. IO3 

one might get in a day. I have seen forty to fifty taken by a 
single rod. Nowadays it is rather amusing to see enthusias- 
tic American anglers publish a score of ten or twelve as some- 
thing surprising. The average size has also decreased 
notably, which shows that anglers are catching younger fish. 
In the times I speak of, four and five pounders were common 
enough, but now they are scarce in the best waters. 

In 1883, twenty days' fishing gave a score of three hundred 
and seventeen fish to one rod; or, deducting Sundays, 
nineteen a day; and this was not fishing all day, by any 
means. Let me hasten to say that there was no desire to 
make a record; that there were some very small day's 
catches, owing to the enormous number of f^ies on the 
water, which gorged the fish; that a good deal of time 
was spent in work and loafing; and that all but the few 
needed for food were liberated either at once or after a few 
days' detention for observation in a pretty fish pond engi- 
neered among the rocks. 

On one of these days fifty-three fish were taken by another 
angler in the same pools at the Grande Chute. The highest 
score I have ever made was forty-two, and I only mention 
it to put on record the abundance of fish then existing. But 
the solitude and the charm have now gone forever from the 
Upper Saguenay, together with the possibilities of those times. 

I think I have said enough about the nature and ways of 
these little Salmon. Let me try to describe a typical but a 
real day's sport with them, and I hope you may, my reader, 
have just such an one with as good a companion and as true 
an angler as I had that June day in 1888, in our Saguenay 
Club waters. 

We start with a '''■Bonne chance, Messieurs,'^ from the 
guardian's pretty wife, a black-e3'ed, olive-complexioned girl 
of sixteen. 

Two of the canoe-men, putting their canoes on their heads 
almost as easily as their hats, have gone on; their mates wait 



I04 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

for the rods and traps. A fine quartet they are — French 
Canadians all, of the voyageur type, with all the skill of 
the Indian in wood-craft, and ten times his courage; brown 
and strong from trapping and lumbering all their lives, grave 
and serious-looking, but with a keen vein of humor; shrewd 
and hard-bargaining, but thoroughly honest; unable perhaps 
to write their names, but with a genuine polish of manner 
which compels respect by its dignified deference. One can 
make companions and friends of such men as these. Their 
costume is simple enough: home-made trousers of the home- 
woven gray woolen etoffe <^?//^j'.y, tucked in the wrinkled legs of 
the long moccasins tied below the knee, which, in contradistinc- 
tion from town-made bottes francaises, are known as bottes 
saiLvages ; a flannel shirt with a gay kerchief in a broad fold 
over the chest; a soft felt hat of Protean shapes and uses, 
with a cherished fly or two stuck in the crown — perhaps, if la 
blonde is near her cavalier^ a feather or wild-flower in the 
band. 

The volume of the rapids, the swiftness, complexity, and 
heavy swirls of the currents, make canoeing most exciting, and 
at times a little dangerous, on these waters. They are too 
deep for the use of setting-poles, and everything depends on 
strength and skill with the paddle. Mounting the Grande 
Decharge, when it is fifteen feet above summer level and 
running like a mill-race, is hard work, but, taking advan- 
tage of every eddy, gripping rocks with hand and paddle, 
handing along by the tops of the submerged alders, passing 
between branches of overhanging trees undermined by the 
current, by sheer dint of hard paddling we got up a mile and 
a half. Now for the traverse. The canoe sweeps down and 
across in a beautiful curve, head up-stream and the paddles 
flashing like lightning, except when a tourniquet catches her 
and spins her half round a circle, while Joseph, with a sidelong 
sweep, decapitates a wave which threatens to lop over the 
gunwale. '■'■Un animal tf un tourniquet,'^'' he says, pointing 





tj^^ -~«a^**.-- — 



ISLE MALIQUE. 



1 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. IO5 

to the funnel-shaped whirl swiftly gyrating down-stream, the 
air-bubbles hissing through the yellow water like the bead in a 
glass of champagne. We are nearly half a mile down when 
the canoe swings, with a sharp shock, into the up-eddy on the 
opposite shore. 

^^C'est la place dc pecJic, Monsieur,'''' says Narcisse, easing 
off the grip of his teeth on his pipe; and Joseph, having fin- 
ished drinking out of the rim of his hat, remarks that '"''on a 
coiitiiuie de prendre des grosses ici.^'' Wananishe, like Trout, 
are of the fair sex in French, and are roughly classified into 
petites, belles, ^.nd grosses. 

This is the famous Ronou de Car on, or Caron's Eddy. 
The big white waves surging round the rocky island, which 
later on will become a point covered with bushes, are the tail 
of the Caron Rapid, a crooked and dangerous one, because of 
the height of its waves and the size of its toiirniqnets or whirl- 
pools, which suck down saw-logs as if they were chips, cast- 
ing them up a couple of hundred yards farther down, to be 
caught in the eddies and swept again and again through the 
wild rush of water, until the ever-changing set of the current 
tosses them on the rocks or carries them off down-stream. 

Pool, in the angler's usual understanding of the term, there 
is none; for the deep river, over a quarter of a mile wide, is 
totally unlike a Salmon or Trout stream. At first he is rather 
bewildered by the interlacing currents running in every direc- 
tion, bearing along streaks of froth which gather in patches 
as dazzling as snow, that revolve slowly for a minute or two, 
then, suddenly dissolving, go dancing in long white lines over 
the short ripples. 

" Ca saute. Monsieur.'''' No splash marks the rise, but a broad 
tail appears and disappears where a Wananishe is busy picking 
tlies out of the foam; then another, and another still. They 
are making the tour round the whole system of minor eddies 
and currents, sometimes staying a minute in some large patch 
of froth where the flies are thick, sometimes swimming and 



I06 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

rising rapidly in a straight current line, and finally going oiit, 
on the tops of the long glassy rollers at the tail of the main 
eddy, into the white water of the main current, which carries 
them back again to the other end of the reviou. 

A patch of brouc comes swirling along with a fish in it. 
It requires a quick hand to put the fly where it will do 
the most good. To a novice it is much like fishing "on the 
wing," but practice shows where to expect the fish. The rod 
swings and out goes the fly, which is allowed to sink a few 
inches and is then drawn in with a succession of slow and short 
jerks, not trailed on the surface. The fish, however, is now 
five yards farther away, and on the other side of the canoe. 
This constant change in length and direction of cast is one 
of the main difficulties, as it is one of the excitements of 
Wananishe-angling. 

But here come three together — "//;/ beau gang,'" to use Jo- 
seph's anglicism. The fly falls at the end of a straight line; 
a momentary thrill follows a gentle pull; you strike with the 
orthodox turn of the wrist, and then blank reaction; the drift 
of the canoe or the insetting current has slackened the line, and 
the fish has been missed. '■'■C est douunage, Monsieiw, vous 
r avca piqiieey The fish evidently is piqued, in every sense of 
the term, and will have no more of your flies. Another such 
experience will make him a marked misanthrope all summer. 
When you strike, if you strike at all, it must be hard, for 
their mouths are hard; but, as in Salmon-fishing, no rule can 
be laid down beyond the golden one to keep a taut line. 
Though no fish are visible, you cast right and left. Presently, 
while quietly reeling in an excess of line, down goes the rod- 
tip with a smart jerk; there is a terribly long pause of about 
half a second, then the reel sings, and thirty yards away a 
silver bar flashes through the air three or four times in quick 
succession, for it is a fresh-run fish hooked in a tender spot. 
You recover a little line, then out it goes again with more 
pyrotechnics. At the end of ten or fifteen minutes he comes 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. 



107 



^^^^tf 




- i 





■-^a^ 



I08 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

in meekly, with an occasional remonstrance, and you think 
it time for the net. 

The leader shows above the water and the rod curves into a 
semicircle, but no strain you can put on raises the fish farther, 
which circles slowly around. A sudden dash under your feet 
drags the rod-tip under water, but is foiled by a quick turn 
of the canoe. Then a telegraphic circuit seems to have been 
established through your tired arms to your spine. The fish 
is standing on his head, worrying the fly like a bull-dog, and 
slapping at the leader with his tail. All at once the rod springs 
back and you are heavily splashed by a leap almost into your 
face. This occurs half a dozen times. He may jump into 
the canoe, perhaps over it; I have seen a Wananishe caught 
in the air in the landing-net after it had shaken the fly out of 
its mouth. He is far more likely, however, to smash rod 
and tackle, unless you lower the tip smartly. 

Some more runs may follow, or a sulking fit. The more he 
is kept moving the sooner he will tire. It is well to keep 
him in hand with as heavy a strain as can be risked, for he 
fights to the last, and there is no knowing what he may do. 
Even when he comes to the surface and shows his white side, 
the sight of the landing-net nerves him to what the pugilists 
call a "game finish." Three-quarters of an hour have gone, 
when Narcisse slips the net under him with a quick but sure 
scoop, and kills him with a blow from the paddle. '■''Cest 
serieuscuicnt grossc,'" he says, as he holds up a twenty-five- 
inch fish. Really the balance does seem wrong when it 
marks only five pounds. 

After a couple of hours cruising about the eddy with more 
or less luck, we portage over the point, making our way with 
some difficulty through the tangle of rocks and trees, though 
the men, canoe on head and both hands full, skip along easily 
enough. There we find a little family party of Wananishe 
close under the bank, in a hole beneath some alder roots, which 
would exactly suit a Trout's idea of home. Farther up we get 



THE LAND-LOCKED SALMON. IO9 

some pretty casting from a steep, rocky beach past which a 
strong eddy runs. Later on, when the water has fallen and 
new eddies form immediately above the point, there will be 
^ood fishing, either off the rocks or in the canoe, which the 
men will hold in the very dividing-line between the main 
current over the fall and that which sets in-shore. 

At luncheon, in a shady nook, a Wananishe a la broclic 
gives us a chance to test the men's cookery. The fish, 
split down the back and opened out like a" kite, is skewered 
with slips of red willow, well salted and peppered, inserted in 
a cleft stick fastened with spruce-root or a withe of alder, 
and then, stuck in the ground before a clear fire of drift-wood, 
is broiled without any basting but its own fat. If you prefer 
the flavor, you may skewer a piece of bacon to the upper part 
of the fish. The delicate pink flesh is intermediate in flavor 
between that of the Salmon and that of the Trout — richer 
than the latter, less cloying than the former. Planked Shad 
is not better. After luncheon the pipe and a chat, with a 
boucane to keep the flies off. The logs chafing and grinding 
against the shore suggest to the men some reminiscences of 
la drive and its perils. The artist gets a sketch for which 
William poses. For another mile above, the rapid foams 
white. That hill, covered with dark spruces, which divides 
it, is the point of Isle Maligne — well named, for, surrounded by 
heavy rapids pulsating in chutes through rocky gorges, it is 
rarely accessible, sometimes not for several successive 3-ears, 
and only one angler has ever cast a fly from its shores. 

In the evening we fly down in ten minutes what it took us 
over an hour to mount. The roar of the Vache Cialle Rapid 
swells like the sound of an approaching train. The bowman 
stands up to look, says a word to his mate, then both settle 
low on their heels, and two bits of rapid are run like a flash, 
though the trees slipping past are the only sign of motion the 
passenger feels. With the current setting out straight over 
the fall, it is an ugly-looking place, but '*« terre, en masse,'" 



no AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

and a bit of quick paddling brings the shore close. The men 
interchange a rapid glance. 

''Au larger 

''Pas trop:' 

The canoe turns out from shore again, to the horror of 
any passenger making the run for the first time, but, before 
he can remonstrate, tilts over the pitch where a pyramidal 
rock backs up the water, swings end for end, and sidles into 
an eddy just its own length, which has scooped out a hollow 
in the bank within forty yards of the fall. 

"It is quite possible to drown one's self here," remarks 
Pitre, as he takes his Monsieur's rod and coat for the walk 
home. It is a point of honor, however, with these men, never 
to risk a passenger's comfort, much less his safety. Any 
recklessness or bungling would meet sharp criticism over 
the camp-fire. They are cool and courageous in real 
danger, however, and among themselves the rivalry is keen. 
Nothing delights them more than to have a Monsieur who 
can appreciate their points, and, not minding a few bucketfuls 
of water, gives them once in a while a chance of display. 
After all, the passenger has the best of guarantees in the fact 
that very few of them can swim. I speak only of the pro- 
fessional canoe-men of the Decharge. Some of the Indians 
from Pointe Bleue, on Lake St. John, are good enough in 
the canoe; but since the railway has brought tourists along, 
many men seek employment who have no experience either 
in such waters or of the niceties of the fishing. 



THE TARPON, OR SILVER KING. 



BY W. N. HALDEMAN. 



THE Tarpon has been technically described as Me galops 
Atlanticiis and Megalops TJirissoides, the latter being 
used in the excellent compilation known as "The Fisher- 
ies and Fishery Industries of the United States," issued by the 
United States Fish Commission. The Tarpon is therein called 
Tarpum, and classed under "families related to the Clupcidcs.''^ 
In this connection, it may be stated that comparatively little 
is known of the habits of the Tarpon. A search through the 
Encyclopedia Britannica, or other authorities, will make this 
fact patent. The authority above quoted is the best with 
which I am acquainted. It says: "An immense, herring-like 
fish, which occurs in the Western Atlantic and in the Gulf of 
Mexico, ranging north to Cape Cod and south at least to 
Western Brazil. It is somewhat abundant in the West Indies, 
and stragglers have been taken as far to the eastward as the 
Bermudas. The sailors' name for this fish, by which name it 
is also known at Key West, Bermuda, Brunswick, Georgia, 
and elsewhere, is "Tarpum," or "Tarpon." It is the "Silver 
Fish" of Pensacola, the "Grand Ecaille" (large scale fish), or 
"Grandykye," as it is pronounced and sometimes spelled, 
and the "Savanilla" of Texas. 

Mr. Stearns contributes the following notes upon the fish 
as observed by him: "The Silver Fish, or Grande Ecaille, is 
common everywhere on the gulf coast. It is an immense 
and active fish, preying eagerly upon schools of young fry, or 



112 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

any small fish that it is able to receive into its mouth, and in 
pursuit of which it ascends fresh-water rivers quite a long dis- 
tance. During September, 1879, I saw large numbers of Sil- 
ver Fish eight or ten miles up the Apalachicola River, and 
am told that that was not an unusual occurrence. They go up 
the Homosassa River in Florida, and several of the Texas 
rivers, so I have subsequently learned. The Tarpum will 
take a baited hook, but it is difficult to handle and is seldom 
landed. The Pensacola seine-fishermen dread it while drag- 
ging their seines, for they have known of persons having 
been killed or severely injured by its leaping against them 
from the seine in which it was inclosed. Even when it does 
not jump over the cork-line of a seine, it is quite likely to 
break through the netting before being landed. I have secured 
several specimens, the smallest of which weighed thirty 
pounds, and the largest about seventy-five pounds." 

Since the publication of "The Fisheries and Fishery Indus- 
tries of the United States," in 1884, much valuable literature 
in connection with the Tarpon has been furnished the peri- 
odical press of the country. Yet the ichthyology of the Tarpon 
is far from complete, and there remain many facts relative to 
his habits, habitat, etc., to be, and which it is hoped will be, 
in time, unfolded. 

I consider Tarpon-fishing the grandest sport with the rod 
and reel to be had upon the globe; and the study, therefore, 
of the ways and peculiarities of the fish is an absorbing one. 
After taking a Tarpon on light tackle, other forms of angling 
become tame sport. His magnificent vaults into mid-air, 
wonderful spurts, and powerful dashes for liberty, allied to 
his remarkable beauty, quickly converts the tyro in this form 
of angling into an enthusiast. His weight varies, according to 
my observations, between fifteen or twenty pounds and one 
hundred and seventy-five, and in length they reach as much 
as seven feet and over. Their build indicates great power, 
and a generous and dainty fare. In shape they are very sym- 



THE TARPON. 



113 



metrical; and in a large and powerful tail, and numerous fins 
of ample size and sweep, they possess most formidable weapons 
in a contest for liberty. They are covered with brilliant scales, 
whose exposed portions are almost one-fourth of the whole. 
When detached, the part of the scale which gives the fish its 
beautiful luster looks as though it had been dipped in molten 
silver. It is this remarkable brilliance which has won the 




SCALE OF TARPON, .ACTUAL SIZE. 

Tarpon its designation of the "Silver King." The bronze and 
golden tints on the sides of the fish, noticeable only a few 
hours after being landed, add much to his beauty. 

While the Tarpon may range in the latitude stated above, 
so far the sportsmen who have gone in pursuit of him with 
rod and reel have confined their efforts almost exclusively to 



114 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the waters of the southwestern gulf coast of Florida. There 
he is found in comparative abundance; and that coast is 
generally looked upon and conceded to be his annual feeding- 
grounds. To Mr. W. A. Wood, of New York City, is gener- 
ally credited the taking of the first Tarpon of over one hundred 
pounds weight, with rod and reel. The capture took place 
in these waters, and occurred in March, 1885. The friends of 
Mr. Samuel H. Jones, of Philadelphia, however, claim for 
him priority, placing the first catch with the rod in Indian 
River Inlet, on the east coast of Florida, during the winter of 
1 880 and 1 88 1 . To whomsoever the honor belongs, the dates 
quoted will demonstrate how young the sport is. Yet these 
gentlemen have had numerous emulators; and each year the 
number of Tarpon taken is on the increase. Every season 
the ranks of the Tarpon enthusiasts are augmented, and the 
resorts of the South Florida coast grow correspondingly more 
popular. 

A number of well-known Tarpon fishermen are steam-yacht 
owners, and these take in the entire coast, being pretty sure 
to find good sport at almost any of the numerous bays and 
inlets between the mouth of the Caloosahatchie and Cape 
Sable. San Carlos Bay, Estero Bay, the Bay of Naples, 
Marco, Caxambas, and Chokoliska Inlets are all known to be 
points where the Tarpon abounds. The colder the water, and 
the more severe the winter, the further south the best fishing 
is to be found; for the Tarpon is, without doubt, very sensi- 
tive to cold. The gentleman who has been in charge of the 
United States Coast Survey on the Florida coast for ten or 
fifteen years, told me that after the cold snap during the 
winter of 1886, which created such devastation throughout 
Florida, he saw hundreds of dead Tarpon washed upon the 
beach below Punta Rassa, where he was located at the time. 
During the past winter the weather has been mild, and Tar- 
pon have been caught in goodly numbers farther north than 
is customary. 



THE TARPON. II5 

Some three or four years ago, owing to the severe and 
annoying colds which the great and sudden variations in tem- 
perature of our Kentucky winters subjected me to, I found it 
desirable to seek a more equable climate for several, at least, 
of the more disagreeable months of the cold season. I was 
attracted to the south gulf coast of Florida by the glowing 
descriptions given me by friends, of its balmy atmosphere 
and the splendid sport which awaited the angler there. In- 
vestigation showed that the reports I had received had not 
at all partaken of the extravagant. Charmed with the equable- 
ness of the climate, the superb fishing, and the winter surf- 
bathing, with its re-invigorating results, I constructed a snug 
winter home at Naples-on-the-Gulf, which, with my family, 
I have greatly enjoyed during the past two winters. Others, 
likewise delighted with the locality, the wonderful climate, 
and the sport, have built cottages there; a hotel has been 
erected, and Naples gives promise of becoming a popular win- 
ter resort. From Jacksonville the little village upon the open 
gulf is reached via the Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West, 
and Florida Southern Railroads, which convey you as far south 
as Punta Gorda, on Charlotte Harbor. From there it is a 
trip of ninety miles by steamer to Naples-on-the-Gulf, sixty 
of these down the harbor and Carlos Bay, and thirty out in 
the open gulf. A railroad to Naples, which is to be built in 
the near future, will bring it within two hours of Punta Gorda. 

Naples is one hundred and twenty-five miles south of 
Tampa, and is about on the parallel of latitude which extends 
through Matamoras, on the Mexican side of the gulf, and 
through the Bahama group, to the southeast of Florida. The 
vegetation is tropical; and the seasons, in contradistinction 
to our own, are divided into "wet" and "dry." The latter 
corresponds to our winter, and the former to our summer. 
During the past winter (1890) rain has not fallen on more 
than three or four occasions, and during my previous sojourns 
the rule has been beautiful days, full of health-giving sunshine, 



Il6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

with rain not oftener, on an average, than once a month, and 
a health and Hfe giving breeze from the gulf that makes the 
atmosphere delightful beyond description. Here the Tarpon 
abounds — here is the angler's paradise. 

Prior to my first trip to Naples-on-the-Gulf, my fishing 
experiences had been confined principally to angling for Black 
Bass in Lake Erie, with an occasional visit to the rivers of 
Northern Michigan and Wisconsin in quest of Brook Trout. 
I had heard of the Tarpon, but had little conception of the 
real character of the sport afforded by the salt waters of South- 
western Florida. Many anglers have, as I had, the idea that 
the average fish of southern waters is sluggish in temperament 
and lacking in the spirit and fighting qualities which have 
made famous his kindred in the cooler waters of the North. 
This is, however, an error of large dimensions. The Tarpon 
is beyond all doubt the king — aye, the "Silver King" — of game 
fishes, as the lion is the king of beasts; and the smaller 
varieties of fish, with which the bays and inlets of Florida 
abound, furnish as lively sport for the devotee of rod and reel 
as can be had in the wide world. For one who does not care 
to battle with big fish, the combative Cavalli, Spanish Mack- 
erel, Grouper, Kingfish, Mangrove Snapper, Jackfish, Pom- 
pano, Redfish, Sea Trout, Sea Bass, etc., furnish abundant 
sport of the highest order. 

At Punta Gorda, at the head of Charlotte Harbor and at the 
mouth of Peace River, a locality up to this season never fre- 
quented by Tarpon fishermen, the sport is reported to have 
been excellent. Passing there on my return home, I saw half 
a dozen fine specimens which had been caught there, and 
mounted by Mr. Thomas Hartigan, a skillful taxidermist of 
that place. Thus it would seem that the Tarpon is whimsical in 
the choice of feeding-grounds, especially so far as concerns 
the northern places where he is caught. Natives of the gulf 
coast south of Naples have frequently told me that they had 
never been to the inlets of Caxambas and Chokoliska without 



THE TARPON. I 1/ 

seeing Tarpon in large numbers. At Naples I have found 
Tarpon each season in great numbers, though there have 
been, apparently, fewer this season than in previous years. 
This I attribute to the unusually dry weather in the fall of 
1889. As a rule the waters of the Bay of Naples and its tribu- 
tary, Gordon's River, are brackish, but the drouth left them 
this season almost as salty as the gulf, and the Tarpon were 
later in making their appearance. 

The Tarpon seek this brackish water for sport and food; and 
it is probably due to this fact that they were running as far 
north as the mouth of Peace River so early in the season this 
year. I have frequently noticed, in the early winter months, 
large numbers of Tarpon of all sizes sporting in the water at 
the mouth of Gordon's River, when they could not be tempted 
to take the hook. Mullet, at this season, are much more abun- 
dant than later, and this may explain their tardiness in tak- 
ing the bait. At all events, as the season advances they bite 
more frequently, and in April I have had the best fishing. 
May and June, i am told, are even better months, the fish 
running in large numbers and becoming ravenous. By mid- 
summer the natives say the Tarpon becomes lean, losing 
much of his firm flesh and hearty appearance of the early 
winter. At this time, too, they are said to fight with less spirit, 
and are comparatively easily handled. As I have never fished 
later than April, however, I cannot vouch for these state- 
ments. Undoubtedly the spring is the superior season, though 
by far the majority of Tarpon anglers choose their outing 
when they may escape the rigors of a northern winter. This 
necessitates more time, and generally much tedious waiting, 
to secure the prize; but the delights and pleasures of a won- 
derful climate may be regarded as ample compensation. 

The time necessary may be inferred from a statement I saw 
published in Forest and Stream, to the effect that up to 
the latter part of April, 1889, the total catch at one of the 
principal fishing-points on the Florida gulf coast was only 



Il8 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

forty-two; and this with a score or more fishermen hard at 
it during the major portion of the season, commencing in 
January. At this same point, during the past season, I beheve 
something in the neighborhood of seventy or eighty have been 
captured. Many sportsmen, loth to bestow so much of their 
time in quest of one variety, content themselves with an 
annual fish, devoting the rest of their spare moments to the 
smaller varieties. 

As to the best tackle for Tarpon-fishing, were all that 
has been discussed — oftentimes in such heated debate — 
chronicled, it would fill tomes. I have used, in all of my 
fishing, a strong, pliable, split-bamboo rod, eight feet in 
length. With this I have taken Tarpon weighing from one 
hundred and five to one hundred and forty-four pounds, and 
it has served the purpose admirably. It is a one-jointed rod, 
with the single joint near the butt. Many anglers prefer a 
short, stiff rod, ranging from six and one-half to seven and 
one-half feet, claiming that with one of this description the 
casting of the heavy bait is easier. My reels are multiplying 
ones of the very best quality and of the finest workmanship, 
made to order for me by Mr. James Deally, of Louisville. They 
will easily hold six hundred feet of fifteen, eighteen, or twenty- 
one thread linen line. One has the customary click and 
check, with a leather drag attached to the cross-bar. This 
has proved serviceable, but I think the second from Mr. 
Deally 's workshop an improvement. Upon the right side of 
this reel there are merely the click and handle. Upon the 
left, beneath the body of the reel, and extending out con- 
venient to the thumb, is a drag, which may be pressed upon 
at the will of the angler, so as to produce a heavy or slight 
tension. During the first frantic struggles of the Tarpon, of 
course he must be allowed all the line possible, and it is my 
habit, at times during the conflict, to throw line out rapidly 
by seizing it between the reel and the first eyelet along the 
pole. A taut line is most to be feared in Tarpon-fishing^ 



THE TARPON. Ily 

I would say four out of five fish lost are traceable to this 
cause. 

The line used varies from a fifteen to twenty-one linen thread. 
I use a fifteen-thread Cuttyhunk linen line, the fineness of 
which has inspired some of my friends, who pay very little 
attention to fishing, with serious doubts. I remember one 
young lady, who came in to inspect a mounted Tarpon in my 
office, remarked, with a great deal of naivete: "Well, Mr. 
Haldeman, I don't doubt you caught that fish; but really, 
you ought to change your line." 

A most important and much debated portion of the Tarpon 
angler's outfit is the snood. A good snood is a safeguard 
against the scissor-like jaws of the Tarpon. The fish's teeth 
injure only by abrasion, but his jaws are massive and power- 
ful enough to crush with ease the back of a hard-shell crab. 
Therefore, the snood should, obviously, be of a soft and pli- 
able texture, rather than such as to offer any resistance. It 
should also be of ample length — at least three feet — for the 
Tarpon must be allowed to get the bait well into his gullet 
before he can be caught. When I began fishing, I used a 
snood made of piano-wire, and landed several Tarpon with 
it, which is contradictory to the statement of some authorities 
that the Tarpon will instantly detect the wire and spit it out. 
I abandoned its use for the reason that I found the cotton 
snood preferable and more economical, for where sharks capt- 
ure so many of your hooks, the expense of wire snoods is by 
no means insignificant. For some time I have employed a 
treble braid of soft, yet strong, cotton line about the thickness 
of ordinary yarn. This cannot readily be frayed, and gives 
sufficiently to prevent being sawed or severed by the Tar- 
pon's jaws. To prevent the fraying contingent upon playing 
a fish for an hour or two, some fishermen incase their snoods 
with rubber tubing. I am not aware how successful this has 
proved. 

The other appurtenances to a complete outfit are plenty of 



I20 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

lo.o Limerick or O'Shaughnessy hooks and a gaff. I have 
used the O'Shaughnessy hooks, and I beheve they are gener- 
ally employed. 

A gaff is considered indispensable. I regarded it so until 
the loss of a fine fish caused me to change my tactics. After 
a battle of over an hour, during which my iinny opponent 
had gone through the usual process of sky-scraping, astonish- 
ing spurts beneath the water's surface and the like, I had 
succeeded in getting him under perfect control and was bring- 
ing him to the gaff. My boatman, as boatman so frequently 
do, became flurried and made his strike in too great haste. I 
was not prepared for the final move; and the stroke, coming 
unexpectedly, entangled my line and, much to my disgust, 
enabled the Tarpon, which must have weighed one hundred 
and fifty pounds, to get away. Since, I play my fish, as 
usual, until completely exhausted, when I bring him to the 
side of the boat, and make the boatman run his hand and 
arm up his gills, out through the Tarpon's capacious mouth, 
and lift him gently into the boat. My new method has proved 
efficacious in every instance in which I have tried it, and 
hereafter I will exhaust my fish thoroughly, and use the gaff 
only on urgent occasions. Many a victory has been won, 
only to be thrown away by the awkwardness and lack of skill 
of an excited boatman. 

Mullet is the bait universally employed in fishing for Tar- 
pon. Unquestionably, they prefer it to other small fish, 
though I have had them take small Catfish, and the variety 
termed "Virginia Mullet" by the coast fishermen. These 
latter are sometimes called "Rat-fish," the head resembling 
that of a rat. They seem to run with the Silver Mullet, and 
I have frequently seen them caught in the gill-nets with which 
schools of the latter were surrounded. 

Some fishermen use an entire Mullet on their hooks, but 
more generally cut-bait is employed. There is much room 
for experiment in the matter of bait. I have heard experi- 



THE TARPON. 12 i 

enced boatmen, who have been engaged on the south gulf 
coast regularly for years, say that when hungry the Tarpon 
would bite at almost any kind of bait, provided it was fresh. 
One gentleman told me this past season that he had seen 
two Tarpon cut open, the stomachs of which were filled with 
hard-shell crabs. Another observer tells me he has seen Tar- 
pon feeding, presumably, upon some sort of shrimp in a most 
peculiar manner. He says he has frequently observed them 
in shallow water, standing apparently on their heads. In 
reality, though, their mouths were buried in the sand extract- 
ing some kind of food. This odd position while feeding may 
be due to the peculiar location of the mouth. It is upon the 
upper side of the head. Some Tarpon anglers have expressed 
the belief that they take the bait in a similar manner. 

In this connection it may be apropos to relate an inci- 
dent which occurred below Naples last winter, and which 
will illustrate w'hat the Tarpon will do when he is hungry, 
and at the same time shows his jumping proclivities. When 
the facts first reached my ears I scarcely credited them. After- 
ward they were substantiated by Doctor Green, a reputable 
gentleman and an excellent physician. Naples is situated on a 
narrow strip of land, washed on the west by the open gulf, and 
on the east by an inside passage which commences at the 
head of Gordon's River and widens into the Bay of Naples. 
This strip, which varies in width from one to two or three 
miles, extends twelve or fourteen miles, being broken at 
several points by inlets from the gulf. The Tarpon frequents 
the inside passage, which, being well protected from the 
storms and heavy winds of the gulf, always affords safe and 
accessible fishing-grounds. About eight miles down, last 
winter, on the mainland, there was an alligator-hunters' camp 
whose presiding genius was "Uncle" Charlie Cross. "Uncle" 
Charlie, it seems, was advanced in years, and looked after 
camp supplies, etc., rather than being engaged in the arduous 
and sometimes dangerous occupation of "'gatorin'." He 



122 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

was in the habit of bringing his suppHes from Marco in a small 
sailboat. One day in the latter part of last March "Uncle" 
Charlie was returning from Marco, after having disposed of 
a load of alligator-skins, and with the usual load of provisions 
on board. Fortunately, he happened to have a companion 
along. As "Uncle" Charlie turned from that part of Marco 
Inlet known as Collier's Bay, up into the inside passage in 
the direction of the carnp, he steadied his boat before the wind 
and started to light his pipe. Placing his knee against the 
rudder he pulled a match from his vest-pocket and struck it 
on his coat. Holding his hands over the pipe to protect the 
blaze from the wind, he was in the midst of this interesting 
act when, suddenly, a Mullet leaped from the water to port, 
and darted clean across the stern of the boat, directly in front 
of him. He had not time to express his astonishment ere, in 
close pursuit of the Mullet, a large Tarpon rose, and came 
across the boat like a bolt from a catapult. The progress of 
the boat before the wind or the Tarpon's line of assault came 
near making a fatal difference to "Uncle" Charlie. The huge 
fish struck him full in the chest, and tumbled him like a log 
over the side of the boat. The shock of the collision threw 
the Tarpon into the bottom of the boat, and left "Uncle" 
Charlie struggling in the water. His companion brought the 
boat to, and pulled the injured man out in a sadly dilapidated 
condition. Doctor Green, who attended the injured man, 
says he was confined to his bed for three weeks, and doubts 
whether he will ever recover entirely from the effects of his 
wound. But for the assistance of his companion, "Uncle" 
Charlie would unquestionably have been drowned. The Tar- 
pon, the doctor stated, weighed one hundred and sixty-four 
pounds. 

To those who have never seen a Mullet and Tarpon jump, 
this incident may appear remarkable; yet, so far as the jump- 
ing is concerned, there is nothing whatever extraordinary 
about it. Every day, during certain seasons, in those waters 



THE TARPON. I 23 

one can see the Bay Mullet making their customary three 
long skips, in any one of which they could easily clear a small 
boat. When chased by large fish, I have seen them make 
great leaps, darting out of the water with the rapidity of an 
arrow. Tarpon frequently leave the water while chasing 
Mullet, and when it comes to jumping, they are without an 
equal in the piscatorial world. 

With the recital of a typical day's sport at Naples, I believe 
I will have told the reader about all that I know and that I 
consider worth relation in connection with this superb sport. 
I say "typical," but I mean that word only in a circumscribed 
sense. Possibly I should have said "typical good day's" 
sport; for many are the days when the Tarpon fisherman 
returns without anything to show for his efforts. 

It was early in April, and the day was a bright and beauti- 
ful one. In company with my boatman, Ben, I started 
from the Hotel Naples at about nine o'clock in the morning. 
They do say that he who would catch a Tarpon must be up 
with the dawn; but, as I have almost invariably hooked my 
fish shortly before or after noon, I do not bother about an 
early start. The half-mile walk from the hotel back to the 
boat-house on the Bay of Naples is soon accomplished. The 
fishing-grounds are very accessible. A row of two miles up 
the bay, and we are at a favorite spot. The Bay of Naples 
is lined with Mangrove trees. These form a verdant border 
which blends happily with the dark waters, rendering the 
picture as lovely an one as human eye ever rested upon. Back 
of the Mangroves are the pine and hammock lands. Near 
our anchoring-point was a grove of tall palms, whose fans 
were rustling in the brisk southern breeze. Before casting- 
anchor I drop my hook, baited with the tail-half of a Mullet, 
and direct Ben to row off twenty-five or thirty yards. The 
bait sinks to the bottom in five or six feet of water, near to 
the channel. Nothing to do now but await developments; 



124 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

SO, making myself as comfortable as possible, I picked up 
a newspaper and commenced reading. Hardly had I read 
half-way down the first column, when the noise of a large 
body emerging from the water opposite my boat attracted 
my attention. It was a Tarpon, weighing somewhere in the 
neighborhood of one hundred pounds. His rise, which was 
a straight, upward bolt, carrying his tail three or four feet 
clear of the water's surface, was the first intimation I had that 
anything was on my line. A superb spectacle he presented, as 
he glittered for a moment there in mid-air. With mouth 
wide open and gills expanded, he angrily shook his head to 
relieve himself from the hook, and his whole body appeared 
to be quaking with nervou'? force. Back he drops with a 
great splash, and up anchor and hurry with the oars is the 
order of the moment in the boat. Scarcely a moment does 
he remain below, when out again he comes in almost the 
same spot. This time his efforts to free himself are success- 
ful, for he ejects the baited hook with enough force to throw 
it ten or fifteen feet from him. Disappointed, but knowing it 
could not have been avoided, fresh bait is cast out, and we re- 
sume fishing only a few feet away from the locality first taken. 

As a rule the click of the reel will give notice of the Tar- 
pon's presence. In this instance, the fish must have taken 
the bait and advanced in the direction of my boat, thus 
preventing any warning. Some persons coil thirty or forty 
feet of line on the seat of the boat, after having made their 
cast, and watch closely for its disappearance. With a good, 
easy-running reel I consider this unnecessary. 

It is a debatable question whether to "strike" a Tarpon 
after he has taken the bait. Many Tarpon experts are in the 
habit of doing so; many others do not. It is generally con- 
ceded by all that a Tarpon must be well hooked in the gullet 
before the chances are at all favorable for his capture. For 
this reason he is allowed to run with the line until it is sup- 
posed he has had time to swallow well the bait. When he 



THE TARPON. 



125 




126. AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

feels the hook he immediately comes to the surface. If he 
has not thoroughly swallowed the bait, he will eject it. If 
he does not swallow it, a strike will accomplish nothing, for 
the inside of the Tarpon's mouth is gristly and tough. It is 
only in rare instances that Tarpon have been caught when 
hooked in the mouth. Their tongue is hard, and its surface 
closely resembles a whetstone. It is long, being shaped like 
a calf's tongue, and with it they can eject, easily, anything 
within reach. This power with the tongue is one of the most 
astonishing characteristics of the Tarpon. When the bait is 
well swallowed, a "strike" is unnecessary, for the movements 
of the fish and the tension used when the fish is beneath the 
water will fasten the hook well in him. A "strike" would also 
prove disastrous if made, as it is likely to be, at the moment 
the Tarpon jumps from you. 

Lunch-hour came and passed without incident, save the 
occasional replenishing of bait. The sun had crossed the 
meridian and started upon its western descent, and the flood- 
tide had reached the turn, ere Tarpon number two made his 
appearance. When I next reached for my pole, which I had 
rested upon the side of the boat, my attention being attracted 
by the whiz! whiz! of my reel, I took the precaution to 
look at my watch. It was just five minutes past one o'clock. 
My line ran out rapidly, but with that steady movement so 
characteristic of the Tarpon, and which so readily distin- 
guishes him from a Shark, which runs like a frightened deer. 
Seventy-five — a hundred feet have disappeared! The excite- 
ment of the moment is pictured in the darky's eyes, whose 
whites appear to grow with the moments. 

"Whe — w! he's a regulah whale," ejaculates Ben, as my 
Tarpon breaks through the water, disclosing his immense pro- 
portions in a mighty leap of ten feet aloft. Another! another! 
thrice more, and all in as many minutes, does Mr. Tarpon 
wend his way heavenward. A large fish he is, too, and a 
magnificent spectacle. In the meantime Ben has pulled in 



THE TARPON. 12/ 

the anchor and is at the oars, backing gently in the direction 
the Tarpon has taken. After his first outburst of rage and 
terrific endeavor to throw out the hook, the fish begins to 
take things a Httle more easily. With an occasional running, 
lengthwise jump, or skip, he makes up the bay, where the 
channel is narrower, and the proximity to the Mangroves dan- 
gerous. To head him off I directed Ben to row ahead of him 
to one side, meanwhile keeping the line taut, and reeling in 
as much as prudence permitted. This maneuver succeeded, 
and the Tarpon started back down stream, with a rush that 
carried out two hundred feet off my reel. I gave him as 
much of the weight of the boat as was discreet, throwing him 
line whenever he came out of water, which he did frequently. 
In this manner he towed us for a mile, to where the river 
widened out into a small bay. On the way I pass fellow-fish- 
ermen, who greet us with hurrahs, and such exclamations as 
"Ain't he a beauty!" "Don't he fight nobly!" "A hundred- 
and-sixty-pounder, at least!" etc., etc. 

Every time I succeeded in getting him anywhere near the 
boat, he would make another spurt. Gradually these became 
feebler; and he finally took to circling round the little bay, 
all the time, however, some twenty or thirty feet distant from 
the boat. I kept him hard at work, never allowing him to 
get his second wind, and at last had the gratification of see- 
ing him come to the top and turn upon his side, showing his 
complete state of exhaustion. It was plain sailing after that, 
and I soon had him within reach of the gaff, and when my 
boatman gently drew him over into the boat it was half-past 
two o'clock. He was a noble prisoner; and it had taken just 
one hour and twenty-five minutes to land him. He weighed 
one hundred and forty-four (144) pounds, and measured six 
feet eleven inches. I had him mounted, and presented him 
to the Polytechnic Society of Louisville, Kentucky. 

This is the way one Tarpon was caught. Another might 
act differently. While there is a general similarity in their 



128 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

actions, the Tarpon has a great deal of individuahty, and each 
of the fish I have caught has acted, in some particulars, differ- 
ently from the others. Sometimes, when they feel the hook, 
they come to the surface and skip about like a small Sardine 
chased by a Shark, in every direction, wild in their efforts to 
free themselves, and are the very picture of frenzy. 

The natural history of the Tarpon is still in a very embry- 
onic state. So little is known of its habits that I have never 
seen stated in print the season of their spawning. At certain 
seasons their coloring is more brilliant than at others, indi- 
cating that they have been in deep water. How long they 
remain there, or when or where their spawning occurs, seems 
to be yet undetermined. The fact that the scales on the 
back are rendered black by the rays of the sun would seem to 
indicate that they spend the most of their time in compara- 
tively shoal water. Their backs are exposed to the sun as they 
sport about on the surface, as they are so fond of doing, or 
as they feed about on the oyster-shoals, or mud-shallows, 
after Mullet, much in the manner of a porpoise. 

The natives of the gulf coast say that the Tarpon feeds, like 
the deer, when the moon is south. As the moon controls 
the tides, and the best time for fishing is known to be upon 
the flood or full tide, there may be some reason for their asser- 
tion. I have known, too, of Tarpon taking the bait of those 
fishing by moonlight. 

Tarpon-fishing is still in its infancy, and there is room for 
a great deal of interesting matter upon a most interesting sub- 
ject. There is no question it is the gamest fish in the world, 
fights furiously and until it is entirely exhausted, and could 
never be captured with a rod and reel but for its frantic move- 
ments and wonderful leaps from the water, the first ten min- 
utes after it feels the hook. During these ten minutes all 
you have to do is to give the fish all the line he wants, and 
see that the reel runs free. After he is unable to make his 
leaps, he will raise his head out of the water and shake it 



THE TARPON. 



129 



viciously. To completely exhaust him will require from one 
to three hours, according to the work you compel him to per- 
form in towing your boat. 

I should not forget to mention one remarkable characteristic 
of the Tarpon. Comparatively few of the smaller ones are 
caught with rod and line. ' The young fish seem, contrary to 
the general rule, to be more wise and wary than the older 
ones. In my experience, ten iish weighing more than seventy- 
iive pounds are caught to one weighing less. 
9 




THE STRIPED BASS. 



BY FRANCIS ENDICOTT. 



OF the many game fishes which swim the salt or brackish 
waters of the eastern coast of the United States, the 
Striped Bass seems to have claimed more of the atten- 
tion of the angler than any other. 

Many clubs have been formed, and thousands of dollars 
spent in fitting them up; islands have been bought outright, 
and rocky points utilized, by building out jetties on solid 
iron stanchions, for the purpose of affording angling sites 
for this silver-sided racer. In fact, he has given his name to 
most of the tackle used by anglers on the coast. If in northern 
waters we are fishing for the Sheepshead, the Bluefish, the 
Weakfish, or the Kingfish, or in Florida waters for the Red- 
fish or the enormous Tarpon, we use the Bass-rod, the Bass- 
reel, the fine cable-laid linen thread line known as the Bass- 
line, and the hooks commonly known as Bass-hooks. 

There is a most interesting uncertainty in angling which 
constitutes its great charm; you know not whether your 
cast will attract a minnow or a whale, and this is perhaps 
better exhibited in angling for the Striped Bass than for any 
other fish, for in many of his haunts you cannot know 
whether you will strike a fish of half a pound or one of sixty 
pounds. As an instance, on a visit to the Cuttyhunk Club, 
on one of the Elizabeth islands of that name, having a repu- 
tation, as all the islands have, for the large size of the Bass 
caught on their rocky shores, I saw on the records that one 
of the members had caught an unprecedentedly small Bass 

131 



132 • AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

weighing two pounds. This gentleman evidently had a 
knowledge of some wicked game of which we know nothing 
whatever, for opposite ths record he had written "Low." 

If I remember rightly, the largest fish caught that day 
weighed some forty-odd pounds, and the two-pounder is 
still good for "Low" — whatever that may mean. 

Storer, in his "Synopsis of Fishes of North America," de- 
scribes the Bass as follows: 

Cylindrical, tapering; the upper part of the body ot a sil- 
very-brown color, the lower part of the sides and abdomen of a 
beautiful clear silver color; eight or more longitudinal black 
bands on each side, commencing just back of the opercula, 
the upper bands running the whole length of the fish, the 
lower ones terminating just above the anal fin. 

I will add to this that on large specimens the stripes are 
of a beautiful purplish blue, when fresh from the water, fading 
to a slate-color on exposure to the air, and later, as the 
scales become dry, to a light brown. 

His scientific names are many. DeKay remarks, in a tone 
of mild sarcasm: "This species, it will be noticed, has had 
the fortune to receive many names." Dr. Mitchill, who was 
unacquainted with the labors of his predecessors, imposed 
upon this species, with characteristic simplicity, his own 
name. 

The Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, a sound writer on all mat- 
ters pertaining to the rod and gun, in speaking of the Babel- 
like confusion which exists in the popular names of birds and 
fishes, remarks: "To make matters worse, the scientific 
gentlemen have stepped in, and after indulging in plenty of 
bad Latin, have added fresh English appellations more un- 
meaning and less appropriate, if possible, than the common 
ones." 

The following list of scientific names of the Striped Bass 
requires no comment: 

Perca Lineata. Koccus Striatiis. 

Perca Septentrionalis. Roccus Lineatus. 



THE STRIPED BASS. 1 33 

Perca Saxatalis. Sciana Lineata. 

Perca Mitchelli. Centropome Raye, 

Perca Mitchelli iniemipta. Le Bar Kaye. 
Labrax Lineatiis. 

There are but two common names by which this fish is 
known throughout the extended region where he is found — 
they are: Striped Bass, north of Philadelphia, and Rockfish, 
frequently abbreviated to Rock, at and south of that city. 
And even these two names sometimes give rise to confusion. 
A friend who was about to visit Admiral , in Mary- 
land, he packing his dress-coat and other "duds," and I lazily 
smo'king and watching his proceedings — asked whether it v/as 
worth while to take his rod and reel with him. I replied, 
""Do so by all means; you will have time to go fishing in the 
interval of your social engagements, and will find plenty of 
Striped Bass and Bluefish." On his return he told me that 
he was informed that "there were no fish to be caught there 
but 'Rock' and 'Taylors,' and only the niggers fished for 
them;" whereupon he fired off some choice explosives in 
ancient Sanscrit, or Phoenician, or Volapuk, directed at me. 
On the day that he left for home he discovered accidentally 
that the "Rock" was his favorite, the Striped Bass, and 
the "Taylor" the Bluefish. Then, poetically speaking, he 
danced in his wrath, and tore his hair, and gnashed his teeth, 
and wept bitterly. 

"A Key into the Language of America, or an Help to the 
Language of the Natives in that part of America called 
New England, London, 1643, by Roger Williams," gives the 
Indian name of the fish, "Missuckeke"— Bass — and says: 
"The Indians (and the English too) make a dainty dish of the 
head of this, and well they may, the brains and fat of it 
being very much, and sweet as marrow " 

It is unnecessary to say that there is little probability of 
this name becoming common, though it is quite as descrip- 
tive as some of the scientific appellations. 



134 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Of the two popular names, Striped Bass seems the more 
appropriate, as it is descriptive of the fish, and not of the bot- 
tom on which they are sometimes, but not always, found; and 
by this name they are best known in the region where they 
are pursued most successfully, as well as most artistically, by 
the angler. 

Although the habitat of the Striped Bass is extended, they 
are found in greater numbers between Chesapeake Bay and 
Cape Cod than in any other part of their geographical range. 
Along the coast of this favored region, and in the numerous 
bays and inlets by which it is indented, they are caught in im- 
mense numbers by the seine fishermen, and sent to the New 
York and other markets. Even the sandy beaches of Long 
Island and New Jersey are made to furnish their quota of the 
fish-food required to provision the great cities. 

In the fall of the year, crews of hardy surf men may be seen, 
on any favorable day, coasting along in their bank skiffs, just 
beyond the breakers, with one of their number stationed 
in the bow as a lookout, and as they near the sandspits, 
where the break of the sea lashes the water into suds, the 
fish will be seen scudding away, frightened at the approach- 
ing craft. I have seen them present a particularly lively 
appearance in the night-time, darting through the phospho- 
rescent water like bolts of living fire. The seines are short, 
not comparing with the enormous ones used in North Caro- 
lina, and are paid out in the usual manner, from the stern 
of the boat. I have known five thousand pounds of Bass to 
be caught in one haul on the coast of New Jersey 

As this king of the surf is indigenous to American waters 
so the implements used in his capture are peculiar to this 
country Salmon and Trout rods and reels are sometimes 
imported, but all fine Bass tackle, with the exception of the 
hook, is the result of American ingenuity, and is made by 
our own artisans. 

The methods of angling for him in the early Puritan days. 



THE STRIPED BASS. 



135 




136 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

and the implements used, were somewhat primitive. WilHam 
Wood pubHshed a tract in 1634, entitled "New England's 
Prospect — A true, lively, and experimental description of 
that part of America called New England," — in which the 
manner of catching these tish by our ancestors is thus set 
forth: "Of these fishes (the Basse) some be three and some 
foure feet long, some bigger some lesser. At some tides a 
man may catch a dozen or twenty of these in three houres; the 
way to catch them is with hooke and line. The fisherman 
taking a great Cod-line, to which he fasteneth a piece of 
Lobster and throwes it into the Sea; the fish biting at it, he 
pulls her to him and knocks her on the head with a sticke." 

A recent English novelist, noted for his powers of minute 
description, gives the following account of Bass-fishing in the 
last century. The fish spoken of is not our Striped Bass, but 
his English patronymic, the Perca Labrax of Linnaeus, Labrax 
lupus of Cuvier. Old Davy tells the story in "The Maid of 
Sker:" "Up I roused and rigged my pole for a good bout at 
the Bass. At the butt of the ash was a bar of square oak, 
fitted in with a screw-bolt, and woven round this was my 
line of good hemp, twisted evenly, so that if any fish came 
who could master me, and pull me off the rocks almost, I 
could indulge him with some slack by unreeving a fathom of 
line. At the end of the pole was a strong loop-knot, 
through which ran the line bearing two large hooks with the 
eyes of their shanks lashed tightly with cobbler's ends upon 
whip-cord. The points of the hooks were fetched up with 
a file and the barbs well blackened, and the whole dressed 
over with whale-oil. Then upon one hook I fixed a soft 
crab, and on the other a cuttle-fish." 

Can any thing be more quaint than these accounts of 
fishing in the olden time.'' 

The late Mr. Conroy, an octogenarian whose name was 
a tower of strength in the fishing-tackle trade for more than 
half a century, gave me some interesting reminiscences of the 



THE STRIPED BASS. 13/ 

early history of Bass-fishing in the vicinity of New York. 
He said that the reels were single-acting, awkward affairs at 
best; that the multiplier, the balance-handle, the guides, 
reel-band, and tip of the rod, and various other minor details 
in both rod and reel which go to make up their present 
perfection, are the result of improvements made from time 
to time, suggested by the experience of anglers, .or by the 
ingenuity of the makers themselves. As to the material of 
which the rod should be made, there is much diversity of 
opinion; in fact, there are so many kinds of wood that are 
excellent for the purpose, that it becomes a matter of caprice 
or fancy on the part of the individual. Some prefer the joint- 
ed rod of ash and lance- wood ; others the Calcutta, and others 
still the Japan bamboo; while a few, who have the means 
and believe that this royal fish should be hunted in regal 
style, use a rod consisting of a short butt of ash, to which the 
reel is attached, while the long, taperingsecond joint is made 
of the choicest bamboo splints glued together and bound 
with parti-aolored silks, with guides and tips of agate or 
cornelian. This is the rod ^'dc hixe'' — lovely, costly, delight- 
ful to handle, but I fear not over-reliable in wet weather, by 
reason of the glue used in its construction. Calcutta or 
Japan bamboo, in their natural state, possess qualities which 
fit them admirably for heavy sea-fishing; the slender, tapering 
stems formed of masses of tough, stringy fibers, which spread 
out sparsely through the pithy inner wood where strength is 
not required, and crowd so closely as almost to touch each 
other as they approach the flinty covering — the case-harden- 
ing as it were, which envelop the whole — seem to be especial- 
ly adapted to the purpose. 

With such a rod you may cast all day without tiring. It 
is springy, and strikes a fish sharply and at once, and has an 
elastic force which will enable you to tire out a seventy- 
pounder if you have the good fortune to try conclusions with 
one of that weight. It requires at least as much skill to 



138 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

make a cast with it as it does to cast a Salmon-fly. The bait 
must go to its destination at once, or the Hne has to be reeled 
in and a fresh cast made; there can be no retrieving the 
shortcomings of the first attempt, as can be done with the 
Salmon or Trout rod. When the bait is started on its flight 
through the air, the reel, if a fine one, pays out the line 
much faster than the weight of the bait can carry it off, and 
if not checked by the thumb, the line overruns and forms 
a disagreeable snarl on the barrel of the reel — the great art 
being to know just how much pressure of the thumb is req- 
uisite to have the line render only as fast as the bait will 
carry it. 

The graceful ease with which the old Bass angler makes 
his cast is misleading to the tyro. His rod is thrown back 
with about two and one-half feet of line for play; a rather 
slow movement of the tip, not a sudden jerk, forward, and 
the bait, describing a graceful curve, drops noiselessly in the 
water, within a few inches of where he intended it should. 
This is done so easily and with so little apparent exertion 
of strength or skill, that the tyro seizes his rod wij;h con- 
fidence and essays to do the like; the lesult is usually dis- 
astrous. 

The longest cast on record is that of Mr. W. H. Wood, 
made at the tournament of the National Rod and Reel Asso- 
ciation at Central Park, where, with a two and one-half ounce 
sinker, the average weight of a Menhaden or Lobster-tail 
bait, he cast two hundred and sixty and one-tenth feet. 
This has never been approached. I was present as an officer 
of the Association and saw the cast measured. 

The reel used in Bass-fishing is a multiplier — that is, the 
barrel revolves twice for every turn of the crank — and is 
made of German-silver or brass, though the finest reels have 
the caps and sides of hard rubber, thus avoiding the weight of 
solid metal which is the great objection to large reels. The 
size varies with the locality. In the creeks and estuaries of 



THE STRIPED BASS. I 39 

the coast, where the fish seldom weigh over five pounds, a 
reel that will carry a hundred yards of linen line is amply large, 
but for surf-fishing it should be large enough to carry from 
two hundred to three hundred yards. The barrel should in 
all cases run on steel pivots, and be so accurate in its work- 
manship that the lightest fillip on the crank may be sufficient 
to set It running for some time. This motion should be 

perfectly noiseless in whatever position the rod is held no 

grating of the gearing or friction of the barrel; in short, it 
should be as near as possible to perpetual motion, and 
as perfect in its mechanism as the movement of a fine watch. 

About six miles from the New York City Hall, as the crow 
flies, where the Harlem joins its waters with the East River, 
lies that pesky, turbulent region of seething currents, eddies, 
and whirlpools, appropriately called Hell Gate. At slack tide 
the water will be as placid as a mill-pond, with scarce a rip- 
ple to betoken its treacherous character. Sloops and schooners 
passing through the gate will rest quietly on its bosom, with 
every detail of sail and spar and cordage accurately mirrored 
from its glassy surface. Presently little eddies will begin to 
form, indications of a change of tide; currents will begin to 
set in contrary directions, and in an incredibly short time the 
whole scene of placid beauty will change into a brawling, 
foaming conflict of waters, exceedingly dangerous, as many 
an unskillful navigator can attest. This was a favorite spot 
with Washington Irving. To him the whole neighborhood 
was a region of fable and romance which he delighted to 
people with ghostly pirates and more substantial old Dutch 
burghers and their broad-beamed wives and daughters. 
Many of the localities hereabouts are rendered classic by 
the glamour of his magic pen. In the whirlpool called 
"The Pot," a famous lurking-place for large Bass, the gal- 
lant tub of the mighty Van Kortlandt came to grief; on one 
of these rocks the great Ten Broeck peeled himself like 



140 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

an onion and dried his multifold breeches; on yonder island 
Black Sam, the negro fisherman, watched Captain Kidd and 
his men as they buried their ill-gotten treasures by the dim 
light of the ship's lantern. The place is still called Nigger 
Point, and is notable for the fine Bass caught there. I have 
heard of no one who has been made suddenly wealthy by 
the discovery of Kidd's treasure, but many places in sight 
can be pointed out where the rise in value of land has been 
so sudden as to verify the legend of Wolfert Webber and his 
cabbage plot. For instance, below us, its dark outlines 
broken by many a spire and ambitious factory chimney, lies 
the great city whose site was the subject of the famous bar- 
gain driven with the Indians by Oloffe the Dreamer. 

In the eddies forming about the reefs by these turbulent 
waters, fine fishing can be had, occasionally, for Bass weighing 
from two to fifty pounds, though many stories are told of 
monsters of much larger growth having been caught or 
which have disappointed the angler by breaking loose just 
at the moment when they were about to be gaffed. It is 
well not to place too much reliance on these fishermen's 
yarns, for many of them doubtless have their origin in the 
atmosphere of romance which appears to pervade this neigh- 
borhood, or in that habit — shall we call it exaggeration.^ — 
which seems to be an amiable weakness of the gentle craft. 
Still the fact remains that more large fish are caught in this 
locality than at any other place within fifty miles of the city. 

Hell Gate is particularly worthy of note, as it is undoubt- 
edly the school from which all of our large Bass anglers have 
graduated — not intending, however, to say that all who at 
present fish for large Bass are Hell Gate fishermen, for there are 
now many excellent anglers from all parts of the Union, mem- 
bers of the great fishing clubs, who have no further knowl- 
edge of its intricacies than that obtained from the deck of 
a Sound steamer; but that the art of fishing for heavy fish 
with light tackle was first practiced in these waters, and that 



THE STRIPED BASS. I4I 

the tackle used at present for all heavy sea-fishing is substan- 
tially the same as that invented for or suggested by the vet- 
erans, founders of the great Bass fishing clubs — Cuttyhunk, 
Pasque, West Island, and Squibnocke — who had served their 
apprenticeship and acquired their skill amid the boiling wa- 
ters around Pot Rock. There are many honored names 
in the fraternity. Frank Forester, Genio Scott, Peter 
Balen, Robert B. Roosevelt, Ed. Phalon, Phenix Ingraham, 
William Woodhull, James Vallotton, and S. M. Blatchford 
— the designer of the jetties now used on the ocean beaches 
of New Jersey, for Bass fishing, with great success — all were 
graduates from Hell Gate. 

There is an uncanniness about night-fishing in this local- 
it}' which never fails to produce a profound effect on the 
mind. The dark, swirling waters, of unknown depth, as they 
sweep past the stern of the boat, are suggestive of mysteri- 
ous thoughts which no amount of philosophical reasoning 
can dispel. On one occasion an angler, while fishing in Hell 
Gate, had come to anchor of¥ Mill Rock, and having met with 
considerable success, had prolonged his stay, notwithstand- 
ing that the night had grown dark and that thick clouds had 
gathered overhead, threatening a storm. A cast was made 
toward the eddies which form about the rock, and as the 
baited hook disappeared in the darkness he felt it strike and 
catch in some object which the tide was bearing rapidly 
away. For a moment the line paid out with great velocity, 
but checking it gradually, he felt it slacken its speed and 
come to a stop, though the pressure of the tide still kept a 
severe strair on the rod. He tried to loosen the hold of the 
hook by alternately easing and jerking the line, but without 
success, and finding that the object 3-ielded to a steady pull, 
commenced reeling it in slowly. 

What was it.-' It was evidently inanimate and floating. 
He peered out into the darkness, straining every visual 
nerve, but he might as well have attempted to see through 



142 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the darkness of Egypt as that which now encircled him. He 
became nervous — almost frightened. There passed through 
his mind thoughts of the river's dead — of ghastly, sheeted 
forms which he had seen on the cold slabs of the morgue; 
of the horrible semblance of humanity which he had once 
seen floating in a ferry-slip, the features decomposed and 
half eaten by fishes, while the rayless eyes seemed to look 
up to his horrified gaze in mute appeal, that they might be 
laid away far from the sight of man under the sod. He felt 
for his bait-knife to cut the thing loose, but a feeling of pride 
came to his assistance, and he laid it down again. Finally 
summoning all his manhood, he turned the handle of the 
reel slowly until he knew by the position of the line that it 
was almost within his reach. Here was a moment of sus- 
pense. He did not wish to touch it in the darkness, neither 
did he wish to use the gaff-hook. He felt in his pocket for a 
match, scratched it a number of times on the gunwale of the 
boat, and waiting for the sulphur to burn off, held it oyer 
the stern, and in the dim, flickering light which it afiforded, 
beheld — an empty pork-barrel dancing and courtesying to 
him on the waves. He burst into a laugh which had nothing 
of mirth in it, but pulled up his anchor — and then I went 
home, and have never fished in Hell Gate at night since. 

There is a large class of anglers in the city of New York 
and its vicinity, among them many experts, who can rarely 
leave their business cares for more than a day at a time, and 
whose trips are limited to such localities as can be reached 
in an hour or two, so as to admit of their returning on the 
same day. To these there is a charm about the very name 
of Bass which is irresistible, and in the October days, when 
the cheering word comes from any of the estuaries of New 
York Bay, or Spuyten Duyvil, or Coney Island Creek, or at 
Kingsbridge, or some of the upper docks of the city itself, 
these anglers of a day may be seen at the fish-markets in the 
early hours of the morning, with rods and weather-beaten 



THE STRIPED BASS. I43 

fish-baskets laying in their stock of shedder crabs, shrimp, 
and sand-worms, not forgetting a string or two of soft clams, 
for Bass are capricious in their taste, and will sometimes 
take the plebeian clam in preference to the aristocratic and 
high-priced shedder. At this season of the year the waters 
of Newark Bay, Staten Island Sound, and the Kill von Kull 
will fairly teem with small Bass, rarely reaching five pounds 
— oftener ranging from three-fourths to one and one-half 
pounds each — and will be dotted with the small boats of an- 
glers eager in the pursuit of the gamy little fish. 

A day at one of these favored spots with a genial compan- 
ion, or, if alone, spent in those delicious musings and self- 
communings into which one easily falls from pure idle enjoy- 
ment, broken occasionally by the tug of some prying unfortu- 
nate who attempts to purloin the bait and comes to grief on 
the treacherous barb, is one to be treasured in the memory 
and marked with a white stone forever. 

As our boat swings lazily with the current, we note the 
wondrous witch-work which the frosts have wrought upon 
the foliage of the neighboring hills, the russet browns, and 
vermilions, and yellows mingling boldly with the dark green 
of the cedars, while the soft haze of the Indian summer mel- 
lows and blends the brilliant dyes into a mass of harmonious 
coloring, giving them an indistinctness which makes it hard 
to realize that we are not in dream-land. Emerson asks, 
"Who can guess how much firmness the sea-beaten rock has 
taught the fisherman.' How much tranquillity has been re- 
flected to man from the azure sky.'" We give it up; we feel 
in no mood to answer such questions; we know only that the 
hours glide by with a fleetness unusual, and that every mo- 
ment brings with it its measure of pure and unalloyed con- 
tent. 

What matters it if our catch does not rise above the dig- 
nity of pan-fish, or even if the proverbial "fisherman's luck" 
should fall to our lot.' we have a day spent in the glorious 



144 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 




THE STRIPED BASS. 145 

autumn weather, breathing the bahny air of the Indian sum- 
mer, tempered and softened as it comes over the salt water, 
until we feel an exhilaration which will show itself for many 
days after in a renewed activity of mind and body. 

When the tide rises or the fish cease biting, we try other 
grounds, never rowing over the spot which we propose to 
iish, but approaching it with the utmost caution, particularly 
if the water be shallow, for your Bass is a shy fish, and grows 
in wariness as he increases in size. He is as keeu of eye as 
a Trout, and will take alarm at the near approach of a boat 
or at any unusual disturbance of the water. So we drop our 
anchor noiselessly, far enough from the feeding-ground to 
have our boat swing within easy casting distance. The more 
quietly these operations are conducted, the greater the proba- 
bility of taking large fish. 

I have many times fished with an old friend — that thor- 
ough angler and excellent writer, Genio C. Scott — on the 
south side of Long Island for Trout, at Rockaway Inlet for 
Sheepshead; but the one day that we had, off Staten Island, 
fishing for Striped Bass, when I sat, as it were, at the feet 
of Gamaliel, gathering in heaps of fish-lore and occasional 
fishes, will ever have a place in my memory as one of perfect 
enjoyment. Peace to his ashes. 

We caught, that day, thirty Bass, averaging one and three- 
quarter pounds, in two hours' fishing. 

The baits used in fishing for Bass, are, as Mr. Venus puts 
it, in "Our Mutual Friend," "warious," depending entirely on 
the location. On the Susquehanna the Bass are trolled for 
with the eel tail, and they take it readily. At the falls of the 
Potomac, and also on the Passaic and Raritan rivers, they 
take the fly. No doubt they would rise to the fly in other 
waters if properly invited, but thsse are small Bass. At 
West Island, No Man's Land, Block Island, and the fishing 
stands of the Vineyard Islands, the Menhaden bait and Lob- 
ster tail are used with great success. At Hell Gate, and other 

10 



I4D AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

places in the vicinity of New York, shrimp, shedder crabs, 
soft clams, squid and sand-worms are the favorite baits, 
either in trolling or still fishing — the white sand-worm, or 
blood-worm, as it is sometimes called, from the reddish f^uid 
that it gives out when pierced by the hook, being by far the 
most killing of all. They cost about two dollars a hundred, 
while, when fishing at Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard, I paid 
but one dollar and fifty cents per hundred for young Lob- 
sters. Mr. Tillinghast, of New Bedford, stood by me where 
I was fishing, and kept me supplied with bait. The tail 
was cut off and the shell peeled from it — that made one bait; 
the rest of the lobster he cut up fine and threw into the wa- 
ter as "chum," to attract the fish. After a time he became 
tired, and although he declared that the water looked more 
"Bassy" than he had seen it in the several days that he had 
been trying for them, left me, saying jokingly, "All the Bass 
you catch to-day I will put in my eye." In less than an hour 
I had two, one of twenty-five pounds and one of fifteen 
pounds. I shall always remember the pleasure that I took 
in thinking of the unmerciful test that at his own suggestion 
he would have to sustain on my return to the light-house. 

Neither will I soon forget the idyl of that day, when a bevy 
of laughing beauties — school-girls — picnicking from New Bed- 
ford, accompanied by a staid, elderly matron, came trooping 
along the shore, gathering up the Irish moss, pebbles, and shells 
or fossils washed from the cliffs overhead, giving a scream of 
delight at each new find. One of them, incited by that 
spirit of mischief inherited from her grandmother Eve — mis- 
led, no doubt, by the roughness of my costume, the weather- 
beaten shirt and hat, tattered trousers, and my swarthy, sun- 
burned complexion — mounted on the rock by my side, and, 
in the most demure manner possible, commenced to ply me 
with all sorts of embarrassing questions — whether I was mar- 
ried, or engaged, or had a sweetheart; and was this a cold 
place to live in in winter, and other quizzing of like nature. 



THE STRIPED BASS. I47 

tending to great discomfiture and unrestrained merriment on 
the part of her more bashful companions; for, although some 
of the questions drew heavily on the imagination for a reply, 
I had not the heart to mar their innocent fun by appearing 
in true character as one of the wicked denizens of the great 
metropolis, but kept up the rustic simplicity to the end, when, 
tired of their chaffing, or seeking more fun, they glided away 
along the beach, leaving in my memory, never to be forgot- 
ten, the echo of their merry ripples of laughter. 

Some of the greatest catches known, of large Bass, w^ere 
made from the iron piers built for the purpose by the late 
Thomas Winans, at Newport, Rhode Island. In three 
months of one year — July, August, and September — he and 
his nephew, Thomas Whistler, caught one hundred and twen- 
ty-four Bass, weighing two thousand, nine hundred and twen- 
ty-one pounds, an average of over twenty-three pounds, the 
largest being one of sixty pounds. There were but nineteen 
minnows taken in the season, that weighed six pounds or under. 
This sounds like a fish yarn, but I have the highest author- 
ity (documentary) for the statement. Noteworthy days were 
those when, on the 20th of September, their two rods brought 
to gaff twelve fish, weighing four hundred and seventy-seven 
pounds, or on the 9th of the same month, when they landed 
two hundred and five pounds, and when, on the same day, 
Miss Celeste Winans caught four, weighing respectively, for- 
ty-eight, fifty-five, thirty-five, and thirt3'-nine pounds. There 
are but few Bass anglers who would not be proud of this 
record made by a delicately nurtured woman. Mr. ^^'inans 
was an invalid, and fished but a few days in the season; oth- 
erwise the catch would have been much larger. 

Is there more royal fishing than this.' — expensive, but still 
royal. I have no doubt but that, taking in the cost of the 
two iron structures and the many other incidentals, every 
pound of Bass caught cost him five dollars. He, Mr. Wi- 
nans, would buy his two hundred-yard twelve-thread linen 



148 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

lines by the hundred, costing two dollars and fifty cents 
apiece, and would never use one a second time, fearing that 
they might have been frayed by the rocks, and thus lose him 
a heavy fish. This thorough sportsman died a few years ago, 
leaving some millions to his heirs — he was poor, but other- 
wise respectable. 

But it is time to stop. Here we are giving away what lit- 
tle we know about fishing — contrary to the precepts of the 
late Wynkyn de Worde (A. D. 1491) who, in his introduc- 
tion to the famous "Treatyse on Fysshynge," holds forth in 
this manner: 

"And for by cause that the present treatyse sholde not 
come to ye hondys of eche ydle persone whyche wolde de- 
sire it yf it were emprynted allone by itself put in a lytyll 
plaunflet, therefore I have compylyd it in a grete volume 
of dyverse bokys concernynge to gentyll and noble men to 
the extent that the forsayd persones whyche sholde have 
but lytyll mesure in the sayd dysport of fysshynge sholde not 
by this meane utterly destroye it," 



THE BLACK BASS. 

BY DR. JAMES A. HENSHALL. 

SIXTEEN years ago I penned the following prediction in 
regard to the Black Bass: "That it will eventually be- 
come the leading game-fish of America is my oft-ex- 
pressed opinion and firm belief." Also: "That by the use of 
suitable tackle it would not suffer by a comparison with other 
game fishes." 

That my opinion was correct and my belief well-founded 
is proved by the complete verification of this prediction; 
for at the present day no fish is more constantly and 
more eagerly sought for by bait-fisher and fly-fisher than the 
Black Bass. And if further proof were necessary to estab- 
lish the claim that the Black Bass is now the leading game 
fish of America, it is only necessary to refer to the fact that 
follows: 

When the above prediction was made there was not a sin- 
gle tool or article of tackle made expressly for Black Bass 
fishing, and advertised as such, except the trolling-spoon. 
True, the "Kentucky reel" had been manufactured by Meek 
and Milam for a number of years, but it had never been 
advertised, and was comparatively unknown, except to a 
few western anglers. 

How is it now.^ Every manufacturer of fishing-tackle is 
making articles especially for Black Bass fishing — rods, reels, 
lines, flies, leaders, etc. — and it is only necessar}' to refer to 
the advertising columns of our sportsmen's journals to make 
this fact apparent. 

149 



I 50 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Of course, the deplorable scarcity of Brook Trout fishing-, 
and the continual and inevitable decrease of that noble game 
fish in our dwindling and polluted Trout streams, have a 
great deal to do with the manifest interest and pronounced 
favor with which the Black Bass is at present regarded by 
the angling fraternity; but, in my opinion, the greatest rea- 
son for this marked appreciation of this grand game-fish is 
the introduction of proper and suitable tools and tackle for 
its capture. 

Regarding the game qualities of the Black Bass I also, 
years ago, hazarded this apparently heretical sentiment: "I 
consider him, inch for inch a^nd pound for poiuid, the gamest 
fish that swims." The lapse of years, and a more extended 
experience in angling, from the lordly Salmon of Canadian 
streams to the legion of finny acrobats of Floridian waters, 
only confirm in my own mind this seemingly broad and sweep- 
ing assertion. 

As to a comparison of game qualities as between the Small- 
mouthed Bass and the Large-mouthed Bass, I still hold that, 
all things being equal, and where the two species inhabit the 
same waters, there is no difference in game qualities; for 
while the Small-mouth is probably more active in its move- 
ments, the Large-mouth Bass is more powerful, and no angler 
can tell from its manner of "fighting" whether he is fast to a 
Large-mouth or a Small-mouth Bass until he has the ocular 
evidence. 

As there is but little difference in habits, and still less in 
game qualities as between the species, and as the methods of 
angling for both are the same, my remarks in this paper will 
apply to either species under the generic name of "Black 
Bass," unless otherwise distinctly stated. 

ANGLING AUTHORS ON THE BLACK BASS. 

Prior to the establishment of our now popular journals and 
periodicals of out-door sports, there was very little informa- 



THE BLACK BASS. I5I 

tion concerning the Black Bass in books devoted to angling. 
Both species of Black Bass being originally absent from 
the waters of the Atlantic Slope of the New England and 
Middle States, and our early angling authors residing in east- 
ern cities, they either knew very little or absolutely nothing 
of this now well-known game-fish. 

John J. Brown ("American Angler's Guide," 1849), sa3's 
of the Black Bass: 

"It has a thick oval head; large mouth, with roivsoi small 
teeth; a wide dorsal fin near the center of the body, another 
toward the tail, with corresponding pectoral and anal fins. 
The body is quite thick near the head, and tapers regularly, 
terminating in a sivalloiv tail.'''' 

The italics are mine; but could any description be more 
misleading.'' 

Again, being misled by the name "Trout," as applied in 
the Southern States to the Black Bass, he classifies it under 
the head of "Brook Trout," and innocently states: 

"They grow to a much larger size than northern Trout, 
varying in length from six to twenty-four inches; they are of 
a darker color, and do not possess that beauty of appearance 
when out of the water, or that delicious flavor when upon the 
table; neither do they contribute so much to the angler's 
sport, as those of northern latitudes." 

However, he gives, in other portions of his book, brief 
notes from several western and southern anglers containing 
rather fair descriptions of the appearance and habits of both 
species of Black Bass. 

Henry \V. Herbert ("Frank Forester's Fish and Fishing," 
1850) knew no more of the Black Bass than Mr Brown. He 
compiled the description of the species from De Kay and 
Agassiz, and quotes the same western correspondent of Buf- 
falo, New York, as Mr. Brown in reference to Black Bass 
fishing, saying, wisely: "I prefer quoting him to writing of 
this fish myself; as, although not unacquainted with hishab- 



1 52 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

its, I have ne'i^er yet myself enjoyed the pleasure of catching" 
him either with the fly, the spoon, or the shiner." 

Robert B. Roosevelt ("Game Fish of the North," 1862) 
writes more intelligently of Black Bass and Black Bass fish- 
ing than any of his contemporaries, because he wrote in the 
light of considerable personal experience in fishing for this 
magnificent game-fish in the St. Lawrence basin. 

Thad Norris ("American Angler's Book," 1864), although 
having no personal experience in Black Bass fishing, is, as 
usual, quite correct, for his day, in his description of the 
species, for he described them carefully from actual specimens 
and the best authorities (Holbrook, Agassiz), but beyond very 
fair descriptions he gives very little information. 

Genio C. Scott ("Fishing in American Waters," 1869), 
although the latest angling writer of the period under consid- 
eration, has less to say, and apparently knew less of the 
Black Bass than any of his predecessors. 

NOMENCLATURE. 

There are but tivo species of Black Bass, the correct names 
of which are the Small-mouthed Black Bass {J^'Iicroptei-ns 
doloviieu, Lac) and the Large-mouthed Black Bass {Microp- 
tertts sabnoides, [Lac], Henshall). The numerous local or 
vernacular names bestowed upon these two species in various 
parts of the country have been the cause of great confusion, 
and have often caused the truth-seeking angler to doubt 
whethei there were one or a dozen species. Thus in 
Southern Virginia the Large-mouthed Bass is known as 
"Chub," as in North Carolina it is called "White Salmon," 
"Welchman," or "Trout-Perch," while throughout the entire 
South and Southwest both species are generally known as 
"Trout." In Eastern Kentucky the Small-mouthed Bass is 
"Jumping Perch." In the North and West both species are 
known as "Bass," with the addition of various adjectives 
expressive of gameness, coloration, or habitat, as "Tiger 



THE BLACK BASS. 153 

Bass," "Bull Bass," "Buck Bass;" Black, Green, or Yellow 
Bass; Lake, River, Cove, Moss, Slough, or Marsh Bass, or 
Oswego Bass. These names, or others, are applied indis- 
criminately in different localities to either species of Black 
Bass. Throughout the Northwest the Small-mouthed Bass is 
usually known as "Black Bass," and the Large-mouthed Bass 
as "Green Bass," or "Oswego Bass," though the last name is 
in other sections sometimes applied to the Small-mouthed 
Bass. In Oswego River the Large-mouthed Bass is rarely or 
never taken. Then again Black Bass species are sometimes 
confounded with the Rock Bass {Anibloplitcs riipestris), the 
Calico Bass, or Straw Bass {Poinoxys sparoides), or the White 
Bass {Rocciis chrysops), which are entirely different fishes, 
with but a very slight family resemblance to the Black Bass. 
From the foregoing it will be readily seen that local names 
for so widely distributed a fish as the Black Bass are a delu- 
sion and a snare. The only safe rule for anglers to follow is 
to use the name "Black Bass," for the genus, and the names 
"Small-mouthed Black Bass," or "Large-mouthed Black 
Bass" for the species. 

DESCRIPTION. 

At this late day it is unnecessary to enter into a detailed 
description of the two species of Black Bass. The specific 
differences are now apparent to most anglers, who readily 
distinguish one from the other. The most striking and most 
easily recognized structural differences are in the compara- 
tive size of the mouth, and of the scales, as will be seen at 
once in the subjoined illustrations. 

It will be observed that the angle of the mouth in the 
Small-mouthed Bass reaches only to, or below, the eye; 
while in the Large-mouthed Bass it extends considerably be- 
yond, or behind it. 

The scales on the cheeks of the former are quite small as 
compared with those on its body; while in the latter the 



154 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

cheek scales are relatively much larger, nearly as large as its 
body scales. 

Also, there will be found ten or eleven rows of scales be- 
tween the lateral line and the dorsal or back fin of the Small- 
mouthed Bass; while there will be found but eight rows in 
the Large-mouthed Bass, owing to their larger size. 

These differences might be epigrammatically expressed 
thus: Small mouth and small scales; large mouth and large 
scales. The angler who remembers this will never be at a 
loss to identify the Black Bass species. 

COLORATION. 

The coloration of both species of Black Bass varies greatly 
in different waters, and often in the same waters. It may 
run from dark, bronze-green, brownish or almost black, to 
bright green or even a yellowish-green. Usually, however, 
the Small-mouthed Bass is darker than the Large-mouthed 
Bass, the prevailing color in both being olive-green. The 
color is always darkest on the back, becoming lighter on the 
sides, and fading out to white on the belly. 

There are usually various darker markings on the cheeks 
and body. In the Large-mouth the body marks are usually 
faint, longitudinal, clouded streaks; while in the Small- 
mouthed Bass they are transverse or vertical indistinct bars. 

In a day's fishing the angler may take Bass of a dozen dif- 
ferent shades; but if they are kept on the same string, or in 
the same basket, he will find at the close of the day that all 
of the same species are of the same color. 

BREEDING. 

It is also well known that the Black Bass is a spring or 
summer-spawning fish, according to climate, this function 
being greatly influenced by the temperature of the water, 
occurring as early as April in the extreme South, and as late 
as July in the deep, cool waters of the extreme North, 



THE BLACK BASS. I 55 

The male and female pair and form a circular, shallow nest 
in coarse sand or gravel, where the eggs and milt are deposit- 
ed, and hatch in about two weeks. A female Black Bass 
will deposit between ten and twenty thousand eggs. The 
young fry are about three-eighths of an inch long when 
hatched, and remain on the nests several days or a week. 
The parent fish watches and protects the eggs, and afterward 
the young fry. The young Bass grow rapidly, reaching a 
length of three or four inches when a year old, and eight or 
ten inches when two years old. They mature about the age 
of three years. 

FOOD AND GROWTH. 

The food of the young fry, at first, consists of minute Crus- 
tacea and other animalcules; afterward, almost entirely of 
insects until a year old; the second year they begin feeding 
on crawfish and small minnows, always preferring the former; 
the prevalent opinion that Black Bass feed almost exclusively 
on other fishes is incorrect and untrue. 

The maximum weight of the Small-mouthed Bass is five 
pounds, the Large-mouthed Bass growing a pound or two 
heavier, though in Florida the latter reaches fifteen pounds; 
of course there are individual exceptions where both species 
have attained a greater weight. 

DISTRIBUTION. 

The Black Bass now inhabits every Stale of the Union east 
of the Rocky Mountains, and portions of California on the 
Western Slope. It has been successfully transplanted in 
England, Scotland. Germany, and the Netherlands; in time 
it will become cosmopolitan. In the Northern States it un- 
dergoes a more or less complete hibernation, according to 
the climate, and in the extreme South, during the hottest 
portion of summer, undergoes the analogous condition of 
aestivation. 



156 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

OLD-TIME BASS FISHING. 

If the descriptions of the appearance and habits of the 
Black Bass by the authors of the anghng-books before men- 
tioned are so brief or inexact, what do they say as to the 
methods of angHng for this grand game-fish? 

Brown says: "He is angled for in the usual way, and with 
the same arrangement of tackle as the Striped Bass or Salm- 
on; and with some enthusiastic western sportsmen is 
thought to give more amusement than either. But the most 
active and exciting mode of pursuit is with the trolling-rod 
and boat." His Buffalo correspondent treats briefly and 
vaguely of still-fishing with minnows and crawfish. 

Another one states that: "The most beautiful mode of an- 
gling for them known, is trolling either with live bait or an 
artificial fly of large size and gay appearance," and gives the 
formula for the "fly," as follows: "Body of a peacock feather, 
wings of bright scarlet kerseymere and white pigeon feathers; 
or, the feather stripped from a white goose-quill, and wound 
round like the hackle, and surmounted with thin strips of 
scarlA for wings." Shades of Cotton! 

In a later edition of Brown's book, a Detroit correspond- 
ent says: "The modes of taking this delicious fish are by troll- 
ing, and still-fishing with the rod and reel," and gives very 
good, but short descriptions of these methods of fishing, as 
then practiced. 

Herbert throws no additional light on the subject, but 
after quoting the same correspondents as Brown, states in ad- 
dition: "A friend of my own has killed many of this fine Bass 
with a large red hackle, with a gold tinsel body, and also with 
a green-tailed grannam." 

Roosevelt, as before stated, is the only author mentioned 
who writes intelligently of Black-Bass fishing. He says: 
"They will take minnows, shiners, grasshoppers, frogs, 
worms, or almost anything else that can be called a bait. * 



THE BLACK BASS. 157 

* * They may be captured by casting the fly as for Sahn- 
on or Trout, and this is by far the most sportsman-Hke way, 
but the most destructive and usually resorted to is trolling;" 
But, unfortunately, the only personal description of Black 
Bass fishing he gives is by trolling with large flies. 

The only experience related by Norris is this: "I have 
taken this Bass in the vicinity of St. Louis, on a moonshiny 
night, by skittering a light spoon over the surface of the 
water, while standing on the shore." 

Scott devotes just three lines to Black Bass fishing: "This 
fish is taken by casting the artificial fly, or by trolling with 
the feathered spoon, with a minnow impaled on a gang of 
Tiooks, and forming spinning tackle." 

In the light of the present literature of the Black Bass, 
these antiquated ideas are quite amusing, while in the matter 
of tools and tackle they seem very crude when contrasted 
with our present light and comely bait-rods and fly-rods, 
to say nothing of improved reels, lines, and hooks. 

But while these Nestors of the gentle art were recommend- 
ing Salmon rods, and Striped Bass rods and heavy trolling- 
rods for a fish they knew nothing or very little about, prac- 
tically, the true Black Bass fishers of the then West and 
Southwest were using light cane rods, Kentucky reels, and 
the- smallest sea-grass lines. They knew nothing of Salm- 
on, Striped Bass, or trolling rods, and had no use for 
them had they known them. 

-' More than thirty years ago I saw anglers in Kentucky and 
Southern Ohio using natural cane rods, ten feet long and 
weighing but a few ounces (much lighter, in fact, than any trout 
fly-rod then in vogue), with Frankfort reels affixed by grooved 
metal reel-seats to these native cane rods. This gave me my 
-first idea of short and light bait-rods for Black Bass fishing. 

Until a few months before this, as a boy in Baltimore, I 
had used similar jointed cane rods, of my own construction, 
for White Perch and small Striped Bass in the Patapsco 



158 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

River, and for Brook Trout in the mountain streams of Penn- 
sylvania, Mar3'land, and Virginia. From this idea was grad- 
ually evolved, some ten years later, the "Henshall" Black 
Bass rod, eight and a quarter feet long, and eight ounces in 
weight. Up to this time there were no jointed rods to be 
had of less than twelve feet in length, (except the heavy 
Striped Bass rods), or weighing less than fifteen ounces. 

Lighter rods suggested and demanded lighter and smaller 
lines and improved reels, so that at the present day we 
have implements and tackle for Black-Bass fishing as light 
and comely, as elegant and suitable as those for Brook 
Trout fishing; and it is in the use of such tools that the 
full enjoyment of Black-Bass fishing is realized. 

MODERN BASS FISHING. 

Owing to the remarkably wide distribution of the Black 
Bass species, and the great variety in the character of the 
waters they inhabit, it would seem that the methods of an- 
gling for them, and the character of the tackle employed in 
their capture, would be subject to considerable variation or 
modification. But this is true to a very limited extent only, 
and there is no good or valid reason for any great difference 
in the weight and strength of tools and tackle for Black-Bass 
fishing in any waters. For instance, the standard "Hen- 
shall" bait and fly-rods, as described in my "Book of the 
Black Bass"* and in my later book, "More about the Black 
Bass," t will be found sufficient and suitable, in the hands of a 
tolerably expert angler, for Black-Bass fishing in any local- 



*BooK OF THE Black Bass: Comprising its Complete Scientific and Life History, together 
with a Practical Treatise on Angling and Flv-Fishing, with a Full Account of Tools. Imple- 
ments, and Tackle. By Dr. James A. Henshall. Illustrated. i2mo. 464 pp. iSSi. Robert 
Clarke & Co., Cincinnati, O. 

+ M0RE About THE Black Bass; Comprising additional matter on the subject cf each 
chapter of the original work, arranged in the same order, containing the latest develop- 
ment in the Scientific and Life History of this best of the American Game Fishes, the latest 
wrinkles in Angling and Fly-Fishing, and the most recent improvements in Tools, Tackle, 
and Implements. With a new Portrait and numerous Illustrations. 12 mo. 204 pages. 
1889. Robert Clark & Co., Cincinnati, O. 



THE BLACK BASS. I 59 

ity, and for either the Small-mouthed or Large-mouthed spe- 
cies of Black Bass. 

There are many men, however, who, though good and 
successful anglers — who possess great love for the sport, and 
who have acquired a good knowledge of the haunts and habits 
of the Black Bass — ^yet are not expert or skillful in the use 
of light tackle, and require or employ heavier and stiffer rods 
than those just mentioned. These anglers are mostly bait- 
tishers, and are like another class of sportsmen, who, though 
only ordinary shots, make the best bags on account of their 
superior knowledge of the habits of the game they seek. 

For the sake of convenience, Black-Bass fishing may be 
considered under two heads — "stream-fishing," and "lake- 
fishing" — ^either with the artificial fly or with natural bait; 
accordingly, I will adopt that plan, for the purpose of show- 
ing where a heavier or lighter rod than the standard rod of 
eight ounces may be used. 

STREAM-FISHING. 

By stream-fishing I mean either bait or fly-fishing from the 
bank or by wading the stream. This is my usual and favor- 
ite way of angling, and I think surpasses lake or pond fish- 
ing beyond the bounds of comparison. Light rods and tackle 
can be employed, for the Bass in rocky, swift streams are 
usually the small-mouthed species, and do not grow so heavy 
as the big-mouthed Bass of lakes and ponds; and especially 
is this true of fly-fishing, because the largest fish, as a rule, 
do not take the artificial fly. Fly-rods, then, may be used 
weighing from seven to seven and one-half ounces, and bait- 
rods from seven and one-half to eight ounces for stream-fish- 
ing. 

Boat-fishing on lakes, ponds, and broad, quiet streams is 
unendurable without a companion, and the angler always has 
at least his boatman for company; but in stream-fishing he 
has the birds and flowers, the whispering leaves, the laugh- 



l60 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ing water— old and genial friends of whom he never tires, 
whose fellowship is never wearisome, whose company is never 
dull. There are no harsh or discordant sounds on the stream 
— nothing to offend the eye or ear. Even the kingfisher's 
rattle, the caw of the crow, the tinkle of the cow-bell, the 
bark of the squirrel are softened and subdued and harmon- 
ized by the ripple of the scream and the rustle of the over- 
hanging trees. All is joy and gladness, peace and content- 
ment, by the merry shallows and quiet pools of the flowing, 
rushing stream. The swish of the rod, the hum of the reel, 
the cutting of the line through the water, the leap of the 
Bass, seem somehow to blend with the voices of the stream 
and the trees on its banks, and to speak to the angler in 
louder, though sweeter, tones than on open waters; such 
sounds seem to be more intensified or heightened in their 
effect by some mysterious acoustic property of the stream 
and its surroundings. And the occasional "pipe of peace" 
in some shady nook or sequestered spot, where, stretched at 
full length, the angler idly watches the nicotian incense 
assuming all manner of weird shapes as it ascends toward 
the tree-tops, while he indulges in fanciful day-dreams, with 
the cool breeze fanning his heated brow — the soft ferns rest- 
ing his tired limbs! Yea, verily, this is the fishing beyond 
compare. 

LAKE -FISHING. 

Lake-fishing will include, arbitrarily, the Great Lakes, the 
larger inland lakelets of Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Michigan, and other States, and the lakes, lagoons, and 
broad streams of the Gulf States. Presumably, a boat is 
always used in this kind of fishing, either with fly or bait, in 
which the angler is 

— "Cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in 
To saucy doubts and fears." 

As the Bass grow larger, on an average, and are mostly 



THE BLACK BASS. 



i6i 




I62 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the large-mouthed species in all of these comparatively still 
waters, and very much larger in Florida and the Gulf States, 
a heavier rod may be employed than in stream-fishing. 
The"Henshall rods" alluded to above, when of the maximum 
weight of nine or ten ounces, are certainly heavy enough to 
meet the requirements of any one, and for the Large-mouthed 
Bass of Florida (running up to twelve or fifteen pounds or 
more), such a rod is not too heavy, and is powerful enough 
withal to kill fishes of other species of twenty or thirty 
pounds weight. I am now speaking particularly of bait-rods, 
though a fly-rod need be no heavier and will be found just 
as effective. 

There is a method of lake-fishing, however, that differs 
from ordinary Black Bass angling, and requires a somewhat 
different rod. I allude to the fishing about the Bass Islands 
in the western part of Lake Erie. The Small-mouthed Bass 
of this locality hibernate under the numerous ledges and cav- 
ernous, limestone reefs projecting from and lying between 
these islands; and when the Bass are coming out of their 
winter-quarters, in April and May, and just before going into 
them, in September and October, the fishing is very goc- 
about these reefs and ledges; but the Bass disappear from 
them during the summer months, being then absent on their 
spawning and feeding grounds in other portions of the lake, 
or up the streams. 

There are a great many anglers who frequent Pelee, Kel- 
ley's, and the Bass Islands, about Put-in-Bay, every spring 
and fall, for this reef-fishing. Some of them are veterans in 
the sport, having made these semi-annual pilgrimages for 
twenty-five or thirty years. 

As a rule. Lake Erie anglers use a very short, heavy, and 
stiff natural cane rod, and for this reason: The Bass lie 
close to the reefs and under the ledges, in water from ten to 
twenty feet or more in depth, and in order to get the bait 
(minnow) down to the reef as quickly as possible, and to 



THE BLACK BASS. 1 63 

keep it there, it is the custom to use very heavy sinkers, 
weighing from two to eight ounces, at the end of the Hne, the 
snelled hook being placed a foot or two above it, after the 
manner of the "dipsey" lead on the east coast. One or two 
artificial flies are often added to the line above the baited 
hook. The heavy sinker is often made to pound or strike on 
the rocks, ostensibly to attract the attention of the Bass. 
Of course it is possible to catch Bass on these reefs in the 
usual way — with light rods and tackle and the smallest sizexi 
sinkers and swivels, and it is the method I employ; but it is 
also certain that those who use the heavy sinkers catch the 
most fish, and for this reason it is fair to presume that this 
will always be the favorite method with Lake Erie anglers. 

In order to induce this large class of anglers to discard the 
uiisightly and insufficient natural cane rods of large caliber 
and great weight, as usually employed, I have devised a mod- 
ification of the "Henshall rod" for this special fishing, which 
requires a short, stiffish, and springy rod, of medium weight, 
in order to manipulate so heavy a sinker. It will be fully 
described a few pages later in this article. 

FLY-FISHING. 

Rods.- — For fly-fishing on streams a lighter rod can be 
employed than on lakes, for reasons heretofore given. This 
should be ten feet and three inches in length and seven and 
one-half ounces in weight, with a somewhat stiffer back than 
a Trout fly-rod of the same length and weight. The rod 
may vary a little in its dimensions from this standard; it may 
be slightly longer or shorter, or a little lighter or heavier, to 
suit particular tastes or waters; but in no case should it \-ary 
more than three inches in length or one half-ounce in weight 
in either direction. 

Of course, a Trout rod of about these dimensions will an- 
swer very well for Black-Bass fishing, but as the flies to be 
used are usually larger than Trout flies, and as the Bass is 



164 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

generally a much heavier fish than the Brook Trout, the rod 
will require a little more "back-bone" than is usually found 
in Trout rods. At the same time it must be almost as pliant 
or flexible, but more resilient, and these conditions are 
attained by a stiffish back — i. c, the lower third of the rod. 
And to obtain the necessary spring, snap or resiliency required 
in a Black Bass fly-rod, much consideration must be given to 
the material of which it is to be constructed. 

In my opinion there is no material that combines so many 
good and essential qualities as split bamboo. It is strong, 
flexible, light, and the most resilient material used in rod 
making, approaching steel more nearly in this characteristic 
than any other wood. Ash, lance-wood, greenheart, beth- 
abara, and some other woods, when carefully selected, make 
excellent rods, if properly constructed, but the best are infe- 
rior to a good split bamboo rod. I will add, however, that 
most of the cheap split bamboo rods now in the market are 
inferior in every way to a good wooden rod, and they cost 
much less to manufacture. 

Reels. — The best reel is, of course, the narrow, single- 
action click reel, made expressly and only for fly-fishing. Most 
of the fine multiplying reels, however, are now made with 
an adjustable click, to permit of their being used for both bait 
and fly-fishing; and while they are heavier, and the spool 
wider (requiring care in reeling the line evenly), they answer 
very well for fly-fishing where the angler owns but one reel. 
My advice is, nevertheless, to use the click reel for fly-fish- 
ing, as the cost of a good one is inconsiderable. 

Lines. — The best line, by all odds, is the enameled, braid- 
ed silk fly-line, tapered or not, the former being better 
adapted for long casting. Some are metal-centered — that 
is, having a very fine wire running through the center, and 
while they may be as good, I do not see that they are any 
better than the well-known enameled line; they are slightly 
heavier, which is some advantage in windy weather. The 



THE BLACK BASS. 165 

two smallest sizes, "F" and "G," should be used, the last be- 
ing preferable for stream-fishing. 

Leaders. — The leader should be five or six feet long, and 
formed of the best single silkworm gut that can be obtained. 
The gut. lengths should be carefully selected, and be entirely 
free from all flaws or imperfections. None but clear, round, 
strong and sound lengths should be put into a leader for 
Black-Bass fishing, and then only after testing their strength 
up to a strain of two pounds dead weight. The caliber of the 
gut should not be much greater, if any, than that used for 
Trout-fishing. The leader should taper, somewhat, from the 
reel-end to the fly-end. _ The lengths may be tied by the 
old-fashioned water-knot; but the best knot, and the one 
now most generally used, has no name that I am aware of. 
It is simply a "half-hitch," except that it is tied in a double 
instead of a single cord. The ends of the two gut lengths 
to be tied (having been previously softened by soaking in 
warm water) are passed by each other, or lapped about two 
inches; and tied by a single knot, or half-hitch, drawing the 
knot as tight, firm, and smooth as possible, and cutting off 
the ends closely. 

Leaders may be stained or not, according to the fancy of 
the angler — it will make no difference whatever to the fish. 
Leaders should be carried in flat, round, or oval metal 
boxes, between two layers of damp felt, to save time in 
straightening them by soaking or rubbing with gutta-percha. 

Flies. — The best "general" flies for any or all waters are 
the brown, red, and black hackles, to which might be added 
gray and ginger hackles. The best winged flies, according 
to my own experience, may be selected from the following list: 
Montreal, Polka, Abbey, Golden Dustman, King of the 
Water, Professor, Oriole, Oconomowoc, Silver Doctor, 
Grizzly King, Henshall, Queen of the Water, Red Ibis, Coach- 
man, White Miller, and Academy. 

Bass-flies are generally made too large, and tied on hooks 



1 66 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

of too great a size. Those Trout-flies known as "lake-flies" 
are large enough for Black Bass, and hooks should never be 
larger than No. 2, even for lake-fishing, and maybe as small 
as No. 6 for stream-fishing. Sproat and O'Shaughnessy 
hooks are the best. The fly should be tied with a small, 
twisted gut; or a gimp loop, instead of being tied on a gut- 
snell several inches long. 

Miscellaneous Articles. — -The other accessories for fly- 
fishing are the landing-net, creel, or fish-basket, fly-book, 
and leader-box, to which may be added hip-boots or wading- 
stockings for stream work. 

hints and pointers. 

Time. — The best season for fly-fishing in the Central and 
Northern states is in May and June, also September and 
October, and in the Gulf States during autumn and winter. 

The best hours of the day are from eight to eleven in the 
morning, and from six to eight in the evening — the late after- 
noon hours, even until dark being usually the very best. 

Wading. — In fishing a stream, the best plan is to wade 
and fish with the current, or down stream. The angler 
should proceed slowly and cautiously, with as little noise 
as possible, and should be very careful not to disturb the 
loose bowlders on the bottom, or stir up the sand, mud, or 
gravel. The more careful he is in this the more successful 
he will be. 

Casting. — He should cast in all directions to the sides and 
in front of him before moving onward. His cast need not 
exceed forty feet, unless the water is very shallow and clear, 
when it should extend to fifty or sixty feet. He should 
cast as straight a line as possible, letting his flies alight 
without splashing, and should rove them to the right and left 
by jerky, tremulous movements, often allowing them to sink 
several inches below the surface at likely spots, such as the 
edge of weed-patches, in the deeper water under projecting 



THE BLACK BASS. 1 67 

banks or rocks, in the eddies of rocks and bowlders, in the 
pools above and below riffles, etc. 

Striking. — He should strike upon sight or touch; that 
is, the moment he sees the swirl of a Bass near his flly, or 
feels the slightest tug, he should endeavor to hook the fish 
by a slight but quick drawing away of the rod, either to 
one side, or upward with a stiffish rod, or downward with a 
very supple one. This "striking" is not in any sense a sweep- 
ing jerk, or a vigorous "yank," but is accomplished by a 
simple, quick turning of the rod-hand toward the angler, so 
as to move the fly but a foot or two along the surface should 
it fail to hook the fish. The slightest twitch is sufficient, 
with a sharp hook (and the angler should use no other), to 
fasten it to the jaw of a fish, aided, as it will be, by the fish 
itself in its resistance; and in eight times out of ten the 
Bass will hook himself (if the line is taut) unaided by the 
angler; from this it follows that the angler should always 
endeavor to have a straight, taut line. 

Playing. — The moment the fish is hooked the rod should 
be elevated to an angle of forty-five degrees, and the thumb 
placed on the spool of the reel, so that the fish will have to 
contend with the full spring and power of the rod. The 
angler should never give an inch of line unless it is taken 
from under his thumb by the fish, and even then it should 
be given grudgingly; and it should be reeled in again when- 
ever possible, and the fish held as before, on the spring of the 
rod, until it can be reeled in to close quarters, and kept as 
near the surface as possible. 

The angler should slip the landing-net under the fish as 
soon as it can be done without endangering his tackle. The 
fight should be between the rod and the fish, rather than 
between the fish and the reel, for it is the spring of the rod 
that conquers him. When the Bass leaps above the surface 
of the water, let the rod straighten as he falls back, but the 
moment he again touches the water elevate the rod as before. 



l68 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Boat-Fishing. — The abova directions for fly-fishing by 
wading a stream will answer in the main for casting from a 
boat on lakes or broad, deep rivers, so far as casting, striking 
and playing are concerned. The boat should be kept in 
deep water and the casts made inshore, along the edges of 
weed-patches, rushes, projecting banks, etc., also toward 
shoals, bars, etc., between the deep and shallow water. 

Tackle. — A somewhat heavier rod should be employed 
in boat-fishing, for reasons heretofore given, though in no 
instance should it exceed eight ounces in weight in northern 
waters; in Florida and the Gulf States it may be an ounce 
or two heavier, for the bass of that section run up to twelve 
or fifteen pounds or even more. 

For lake-fishing the "F" fly-line is more suitable than the 
"G" line; and the flies may be a little larger in size, and 
gayer in color, especially for rough water. 

minnow-casting. 

Casting the minnow on streams or lakes is a mode of 
angling that is second only to fly-fishing when suitable tools 
and tackle are employed. For this style of fishing I devised, 
some twenty years ago, the rod known as the "Henshall rod,'^ 
which having been extensively manufactured for fifteen years, 
is now so well known that it is only necessary to allude to 
it by name. Previous to this, long and heavy rods and 
coarse tackle were employed, as mentioned under the cap- 
tion of "Old-Time Bass-Fishing." Casting the minnow is 
now, I might say, the most popular method of bass-fishing 
among expert anglers, for it is, unfortunately, only the 
minority of the angling fraternity that practice the more 
artistic and preferable mode of fly-fishing for the Black Bass. 

Rods. — The rod for minnow-casting should be short, light 
and flexible. Many anglers use a short, natural cane rod 
of small caliber, but it is too stiff and inelastic for playing a 
fish properly, though it answers very well for casting, which. 



THE BLACK BASS. 1 69 

however, is not the most important function to be considered 
in a rod — a long cast could be made with a billiard-cue. 

I think the Henshall rod fulfills every condition and 
meets all the requirements for minnow-casting. For stream- 
fishing, either from the bank or by wading, a lighter rod 
may be used than for lake-fishing, though the standard rod 
of eight ounces and eight and a quarter feet will answer well 
in either place. 

For the peculiar style of Bass-fishing on the reefs about 
the Bass Islands of Lake Erie, where a sinker of from two 
to eight ounces is used (as mentioned on a preceding page), 
I have devised a rod which is styled the "Little Giant" rod, 
and its specifications are as follows: The rod is made in but 
two pieces (of equal length) with one joint, the latter being 
non-doweled with cylindrical ferrules. It can be constructed 
of split bamboo throughout, or with ash butt and lancewood 
or greenheart top. The entire length of the rod is seven and 
one-half feet, and the weight about eight ounces, depending 
somewhat on the material of construction: 

Extreme length 7 feet 6 inches. 

jMale ferrule of joint 11-32 inches diameter. 

Extreme tip y^ inch diameter. 

Length of grip (below reel) 8 inches. 

Length of reel-seat 4 inches. 

Mr. Thos. H. Chubb, of Post Mills, Vermont, made me 
several rods, of different kinds of wood, and split bamboo, 
in accordance with the above specifications (which are for an 
ash and lancewood rod), and they all fulfilled the conditions 
sought for, exactly. Mr. Chubb put this rod on the market 
during the past season, and I hope to see it displace the rude 
and uncouth and insufficient rods heretofore employed by 
most of the Lake Erie anglers. It is stiff and powerful 
enough to manipulate the heavy sinker, and springy and 
pliable enough to kill the fish, without being of any greater 
weight than the standard Henshall rod. It will also be found 
effective for light Striped Bass fishing on the east coast, or 



170 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

wherever a heavy sinker or bait is required to be cast from 
a free-running, multiplying reel. 

Reels. — Only the multiplying reel should be used in min- 
now-casting, and it should be the best that can be purchased 
for satisfactory work. There are now at least half a dozen 
different styles of reels made for this special fishing, which 
are marvels of skill, workmanship, and ingenuity. The price 
rnns from ten to twenty dollars, and the angler cannot go 
far wrong whichever he may choose, but he should always 
remember that the best is the cheapest. 

Lines. — The braided raw silk line is best, and the braided 
linen line next. Twisted lines cannot be used for casting the 
minnow owing to their kinking. For stream and ordinary 
lake-fishing, the "H" line, or, as it is styled by some manu- 
facturers, the "Henshall" line, is the best size to use. It is 
smaller and more closely braided than the old "G" line, 
although as strong. Very long casts can be made with it, 
and its introduction, a few years ago, was indeed a boon for 
bait-iishers. 

For Lake Erie fishing, where very heavy sinkers are used, 
the "G," or, still better, the"F" line is more suitable. Fly- 
lines of enameled or water-proofed silk should never be used 
in bait-iishing where long casts are made, owing to their stiff- 
ness and large caliber. 

Hooks. — -The Sproat hook stands at the head of its class, 
with the O'Shaughnessy a good second. Most anglers 
employ hooks too large for Black-Bass fishing, from 2-0 to 
5-0 — but smaller hooks, sizes i and 2, are much to be pre- 
ferred; they are amply strong enough, and the smaller size of 
the wire is not so apt to kill or injure the minnow\ The fact 
of the small hooks of the artificial flies so frequently taking 
and holding the Bass, should convince even the Lake Erie 
anglers that they are large enough for bait-hooks as well. 

Many anglers, either through prejudice, ignorance or habit, 
still use the cheap Kirby bend (that is, side or crooked bend) 



THE BLACK BASS. 



171 




1/2 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

hooks, notwithstanding their inefficiency and poor quahty. 

The best hooks are always black or japanned — those of an 
inferior quahty are always blued or bright. 

The hook should be tied on a gut-snell for stream or lake 
fishing, but a gimp-snell may be used wherever Pike or Pick- 
erel abound, as a matter of economy only. 

Casting. — The angler, then, being rigged with rod, reel 
and line, affixes a small brass swivel to the end of the line, 
and to the other end of the swivel loops on a snelled Sproat 
hook, which he passes through the lips of a lively "shiner,'^ 
and is ready for business or pleasure. 

To make a cast he reels up the line until the minnow hangs 
but a foot or two below the tip of the rod; then, with his 
thumb on the spool of the reel, he makes a quartering cast, 
toward his right or left front, keeping a gentle pressure of 
his thumb on the rapidly revolving spool (to prevent over- 
running), and as the minnow reaches the water, twenty or 
even forty yards away, he stops the reel by a stronger press- 
ure of the thumb. 

Then, after permitting the minnow to swim about at its 
own sweet will for a few seconds, he reels it slowly toward 
him, and prepares for another cast in the same, or another, 
direction. The casts are to be made toward the same 
grounds or locations as mentioned in fiy-fishing, though the 
minnow can be cast farther than the liy, and the chances for 
fish are, consequently, greater. The artificial minnow, or a 
small spoon, may be cast in the same manner in swift, bro- 
ken water, especially about riffies and below mill-dams, with 
good results. 

Playing. — When the Bass takes the minnow, the angler 
should keep his thumb on the reel and allow the fish to run 
a few seconds with the bait, and then stop the reel by a 
firmer pressure of the thumb, when, if the fish gives a few 
short tugs or jerks, he should be permitted to take a little 
more line, and the reel again stopped; then, if the Bass pulls 



THE BLACK BASS. 1 73 

steadily and strongly, without jerking, he should be hooked 
by^a turn of the wrist (as mentioned under fly-fishing). Very 
often the fish pulls steadily from the time of seizing the min- 
now, and goes off with a rush, when he is to be hooked at 
once; and, again, he often hooks himself in his wicked grab 
at the minnow. 

The manner of playing the Bass in bait-fishing is to all in- 
tents and purposes the same as in fly-fishing. 

STILL-FISHING. 

Still-fishing is bait-fishing with minnow, crawfish, helgra- 
mite, frog, etc., from a boat or from the bank of a stream. 

Almost any kind of rod or reel will answer for still-fishing, 
as there is, usually, no attempt at long casts. The rig 
varies from a cane pole or sapling without a reel, to the 
finest rods and reels made. The same is true of lines, for all 
kinds are used, twisted and braided, and of all sizes. And 
the array of hooks, sinkers and floats is also subject to the 
same variation. 

The best outfit, however, for still-fishing, should be a light 
rod, say eight ounces, of reasonable length, a multipyling 
reel, a"G"or"H" braided line, a six-foot leader, and a Sproat 
hook. No. I or 2, on gut-snell. If the bottom is weedy or 
mossy, or if crawfish or helgramite or worms are used for 
bait, a small float should be employed to keep the bait from. 
the bottom; otherwise a float is not necessary. 

The angler, after casting his bait, if it is a minnow, should 
leave it to its own devices and allow it to swim about undis- 
turbed, and should keep himself as "still" as possible for a 
few minutes, when he may move his bait to a new position 
or withdraw it for a new cast; but the less the minnow is 
pulled about, the longer it will live, and the better will be the 
still-fisher's chances for a bite — he can exercise his virtue of 
patience to the fullest extent in this mode of angling. 

TROLLING. 

Trolling is practiced from a moving boat, either with hand- 



174 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

line and spoon, or with rod and reel, with minnow, small 
spoon, or artificial flies. Trolling with the hand-line can 
hardly be reckoned within the pale of legitimate angling; 
sometimes, as in camping, it is practiced as a matter of 
necessity rather than as a phase of sportmanship. 

Trolling with light and suitable rod and tackle, and a 
small spoon, a minnow, or artificial flies of large size, is a 
higher grade of angling than still-fishing, and is productive of 
the keenest enjoyment and pleasure. Many anglers prefer 
it to all other methods, as there is the variety of the slowly 
moving boat, the ever-changing scene, and the fierce rush of 
the Bass when he seizes the moving lure — for he always hooks 
himself (if hooked at all) in this style of fishing. 

Trolling with the rod is usually more successful than still- 
fishing, on lakes and large ponds, as the angler covers more 
ground, and the bait is in constant motion, and moves in a 
more natural manner. The angler also has opportunities to 
indulge more in hope and anticipation than in still-fishing, 
and requires less patience and perseverance and pertinacity. 

But in all the methods of angling, from fly-fishing to still- 
fishing (excepting always the murderous hand-line and spoon) 
perhaps comparisons are indeed odious; for all methods have 
their votaries, each as enthusiastic as the other, and each, no 
doubt, getting as much pleasure and enjoyment out of his 
own method as the other in his; and, moreover, all are alike 
members of the universal angling guild, and however different 
their modes and methods, one and all can say of "angling," 
as did Sir Henry Wotton (who died in 1601, aged ninety-five 
years), that it was "a rest to his mind, a cheerer of his spirits, 
a diverter of sadness, a calmer of unquiet thoughts, a moder- 
ator of passions, a procurer of contentedness;" that "it begat 
habits of peace and patience in those that professed and prac- 
ticed it." 



THE BLUE-FISH. 

BY G. BROWN GOODE. 

THIS fish, which on the coast of New England and the 
Middle States is called the Blue-fish, is also known in 
Rhode Island as the "Horse Mackerel;" south of Cape 
Hatteras as the "Skipjack;" in North Carolina, Virginia and 
Maryland it is sometimes known as the "Green-fish." Young 
Blue-fish are in some parts of New England called "Snapping 
Mackerel," or "Snappers;" about New Bedford "Blue Snap- 
pers;" to distinguish them from the Sea Bass, they are some- 
times spoken of as the "Blue-fish." About New York they are 
called "Skip Mackerel," and higher up the Hudson River 
"White-fish." In the Gulf of Mexico the name "Blue-fish" 
is in general use. 

Pomatomus Saltatrix is widely distributed in the Malay Ar- 
chipelago, Australia, at the Cape of Good Hope, at Natal and 
about Madagascar; in the Mediterranean, where it is a well- 
known and highly-prized food-fish in the markets of Algiers, 
though rare on the Italian side. It has been seen at Malta, 
at Alexandria, along the coast of Syria, and about the Cana- 
ries. It has never been seen on the Atlantic coast of Europe, 
and, strangely enough, never in the waters of the Bermudas 
or any of the Western Islands, On our coast it ranges from 
Central Brazil and the Guianas through the Gulf of Mexico 
and north to Nova Scotia, though never seen in the Bay of 
Fundy. 

From Cape Florida to Penobscot Bay, Blue-fish are abun- 
dant at all seasons when the temperature of the water is pro- 
pitious. It is not yet known what limits of temperature are 

175 



176 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the most favorable to their welfare, but it would appear, from 
the studies of the dates of their appearance during a period of 
years in connection with the ocean temperature, that they 
prefer to avoid water that is much colder than forty. It 
is possible that the presence of their favorite food, the Men- 
haden, has as much influence upon their movements as water 
temperature. Certain it is, that few Blue-fish are found on 
our Middle and Southern coast when the Menhaden are ab- 
sent; on the other hand, the Blue-fish do not venture in great 
numbers into the Gulf of Maine at the time when Menhaden 
are schooling and are at their greatest abundance. Their 
favorite summer haunts are in the partially protected waters 
of the Middle States from May to October, with an average 
temperature of sixty degrees to seventy-five degrees. The 
Menhaden, or certain schools of them, affect a cooler climate 
and thrive in the waters of Western and Central Maine in 
the months when the harbor temperatures are little above 
fifty and fifty-five, and that of the ocean considerably lower. 
Since Prof. Baird wrote in 1871, there has been no great 
change in the abundance of the Blue-fish. They are quite 
sufficient in number to supply the demand for them and to 
make great inroads upon the other fishes, some of which, like 
the Menhaden or Mackerel, would perhaps, if undisturbed 
by the Blue-fish, be more valuable than they are at present. 
They have now been with us for fifty years. Their numbers 
are subject to periodical variations, of the causes of which 
we are ignorant. It is to be regretted that there are no rec- 
ords of it in the South Atlantic States. If such existed we 
might, perhaps, learn from them that the Blue-fish remained 
in those waters while absent from the northern coasts. Only 
one statement is to be found which covers this period, 
although Lawson, in his "History of North Carolina," pub- 
lished in 1709, and Catesby, in his "Natural History of the 
Carolinas," published in 1743, refer to its presence. In "Ber- 
tram's Travels," published in 1791, the "Skipjack" is men- 



THE BLUE-FISH. 1 77 

tioned as one of the most abundant fish at the mouth of the 
St. John's River. When Blue-fish again became abundant, 
their presence was first noticed at the South, and they seem 
to have made their inroads from that direction. The Blue- 
fish was unknown to Schoepf, if we may judge from his work 
on the "Fishes of New York," published in 1787. Dr. Mitchell 
recorded their frequent capture about New York in 18 14, 
though before 18 10 they are said to have been unknown 
there. In 1825 they were very abundant, and in 1841 
immense numbers were captured in the Vineyard Sound, 
while about Nantucket they were on the increase from 1820 
to 1830. It is certain that they had not reappeared in 1822 
in Narragansett Bay, for in "D wight's Travels," it is stated 
that, though formerly abundant, they had not been seen in 
that region since the time of the Revolution. The first one 
which was noticed north of Cape Cod was captured in Octo- 
ber 1837, though we have no record of their reappearance 
about Cape Ann before 1847. 

The Blue-fish is a carnivorous animal of the most pro- 
nounced type, feeding solely upon other fish. Prof. Baird 
remarks: 

"There is no parallel in point of destructiveness to the 
Blue-fish among the marine species on our coast, whatever 
may be the case among some of the carnivorous fish of the 
South American waters. The Blue-fish has been well likened 
to an animated chopping machine, the business of which is 
to cut to pieces and otherwise destroy as many fish as possi- 
ble in a given space of time. All writers are unanimous in 
regard to the destructiveness of the Blue-fish. Going in large 
schools, in pursuit of fish not much inferior to themselves in 
size, they move along like a pack of hungry wolves destroy- 
ing everything before them. Their trail is marked by frag- 
ments of fish and by the stain of blood in the sea, as, where 
the fish is too large to be swallowed entire, the hinder por- 
tion will be bitten off and the anterior part allowed to float 
12 



178 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

away or sink. It is even maintained, with great earnestness, 
that such is the gluttony of the fish, that when the stomach 
becomes fuH, the contents are disgorged and then again filled. 
It is certain that it kills many more fish than it requires for its 
own support. 

"The youngest fish, equally with the older, perform this 
function of destruction, and although they occasionally 
devour crabs, worms, etc., the bulk of their sustenance 
throughout the greater part of the year is derived from other 
fish. Nothing is more common than to find a small Blue-fish 
of six or eight inches in length under a school of minnows 
making continual dashes and captures among them. The 
stomachs of the Blue-fish of all sizes, with rare exceptions, 
are found loaded with the other fish, sometimes to the num- 
ber of thirty or forty, either entire or in fragments. 

"As already referred to, it must also be borne in mind that 
it is not merely the small fry that are thus devoured, and 
which it is expected will faU a prey to other animals, but 
that the food of the Blue-fish consists very largely of individ- 
uals which have already passed a large percentage of the 
chances against their attaining maturity, many of them in- 
deed having arrived at the period of spawning. To make 
the case more clear, let us realize for a moment the number 
of Blue-fish that exist on our coast in the summer season. 
As far as I can ascertain by the statistics obtained at the fish- 
ing stations on the New England coast as also from the records 
of the New York markets, kindly furnished by Middleton and 
Carman of the Fulton Market, the capture of Blue-fish, from 
New Jersey to Monomoy, during the season, amounts to not 
less than one million individuals, averaging five or six pounds 
each. Those, however, who have seen the Blue-fish in his 
native waters, and realized the immense number there exist- 
ing, will be quite willing to admit that probably not one fish 
in a thousand is ever taken by man. 

"If, therefore, we have an actual capture of one million, we 



THE BLUE-FISH. 179 

may allow one thousand millions as occurring in the extent 
of our coasts referred to, even neglecting the smaller ones, 
which, perhaps, should also be taken into the account. 

"An allowance of ten tish per day to each Blue-fish is not 
excessive, according to the testimony elicited from the fisher- 
men and substantiated by the stomachs of those examined; 
this gives ten thousand millions of fish destroyed per day. 
And as the period of the stay of the Blue-fish on the New 
England coast is at least one hundred and twenty days, we 
have in round numbers twelve hundred million millions fish 
devoured in the course of a season. Again, if each Blue-fish, 
averaging five pounds, devours or destroys even half its own 
weight of other fish per day (and I am not sure that the esti- 
mate of some witnesses of twice this weight is not more 
nearly correct), we will have, during the same period, a daily 
loss of twenty-five hundred millicn pounds, equal to three 
hundred thousand millions for the season. 

"This estimate applies to three or four year old fish, of at 
least three to five pounds weight. We must however, allow 
for those of smaller size, and a hundred-fold or more in num- 
ber, all engaged simultaneously in the butchery referred to. 

"We can scarcely conceive of a number so vast; and how- 
ever much we may diminish, within reason, the estimate of 
the number of Blue-fish and the average of their captures, 
there still remains an appalling aggregate of destruction. 
While the smallest Blue-fish feed upon the diminutive fry, 
those of which we have taken account capture fish of large 
size, many of them if not capable of reproduction, being with- 
in at least one or two years of that period. 

"It is estimated by very good authority that of the spawn 
deposited by any fish at a given time not more than thirty 
per cent, are hatched, and that less than ten per cent, attain 
an age when they are able to take care of themselves. As 
their age increases, the chances of reaching maturity becomes 
greater and greater. It is among the small residuum of this 



l80 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

class that the agency of the Blue-fish is exercised, and what- 
ever reasonable deduction may be made in our estimate, we 
cannot doubt that they exert a material influence. 

"The rate of growth of the Blue-fish is also an evidence of 
the immense amount of food they must consume. The 
young fish which appear along the shores of Vineyard Sound, 
about the middle of August, are about five inches in length. 
By the beginning of September, however, they have reached 
six or seven inches, and on their reappearance in the second 
year they measure about twelve or fifteen inches. After this 
they increase in a still more rapid ratio. A fish which passes 
eastward from Vineyard Sound in the spring, weighing five 
pounds, is represented, according to the general impression, 
by the ten to fifteen pound fish of the autumn. If this be 
the fact, the fish of three or four pounds which pass along 
the coast of North Carolina in March return to it in October 
weighing ten to fifteen pounds. 

"As already explained, the relationship of these fish to the 
other inhabitants of the sea is that of an unmitigated butcher; 
and it is able to contend successfully with any other species 
not superior to itself in size. It is not known whether an 
entire school ever unite in an attack upon a particular object 
of prey, as is said to be the case with the ferocious fishes 
of the South American rivers; should they do so, no animal, 
however large, could withstand their onslaught. 

"They appear to eat anything that swims of suitable size — 
fish of all kinds, but perhaps more especially the Menhaden, 
which they seem to follow along the coast, and which they 
attack with such ferocity as to drive them on the shore, where 
they are sometimes piled up in windrows to the depth of a 
foot or more. 

"The amount of food they destroy, even if the whole of it 
be not actually consumed, is almost incredible. Mr. Westgate 
and others estimate it at twice the weight of the fish in a day, 
and this is perhaps quite reasonable. Capt. Spindle goes so 



THE BLUE-FISH. 



i8i 




1 82 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

far as to say that it will destroy a thousand fish in a day. 
This gentleman is also of the opinion that they do much 
more harm to the fishes of the coast than is caused by the 
pounds. They will generally swallow a fish of a very large 
size in proportion to their own, sometimes taking it down 
bodily; at others, only the posterior half. The peculiar 
armor of certain fish prevents their being taken entire; and 
it is not uncommon to find the head of a sculpin, or other 
fish, whose body has evidently been cut off by the Blue-fish. 
In the summer time the young are quite apt to establish them- 
selves singly in a favorite locality, and, indeed, to accom- 
pany the fry of other fishes usually playing below them, and 
every now and then darting upward and capturing an unlucky 
individual, while the rest dash away in every direction. In 
this manner they attend upon the young Mullet, Atherinas, 
etc. They are very fond of squid, which may very frequently 
be detected in their stomachs. In August, 1870, about Fire ' 
Island, Mr. S. I. Smith found their stomachs filled with 
marine worms, a species of Heteronereis, which, though 
usually burrowing in the mud, at that season swims freely 
toward the surface in connection with the operation of repro- 
duction. This, like the squid, is a favorite bait for the 
Blue-fish; and they appear to care for little else when these 
are to be had. This fact probably explains the reason why, 
at certain seasons, no matter how abundant the fish may be, 
they cannot be taken with the drail or squid boat." 

The Blue-fish are believed to have had a very important 
influence upon the abundance of other species on some parts 
of the coast. This has been noticed especially on the north 
side of Cape Cod. South of Cape Cod the small fish occur 
in such enormous abundance that even the voracity of mil- 
hons of Blue -fish could hardly produce any effect upon 
them. Capt. Atwood has recorded his belief that the advent 
of the Blue-fish drove away the Plaice or large Flounder 
from those waters, not so much by their direct attacks upon 



THE BLUE-FISH. I 83 

them as by destroying the squid upon which the latter for- 
merly subsisted. 

He is also of the opini6n that the Mackerel, once, for a 
time, were affected by them. The Mackerel have since 
returned to those waters in their wonted numbers, but the 
Blue-fish are not now sufficiently plenty north of Cape Cod 
to interfere with them. The flight of the Mackerel is not an 
unmitigated evil, however, since, as Capt. Atwood pointed 
out, the number of lobsters for a time was very considerably 
increased. The Mackerel fed upon their eggs, and when 
they were driven away by the Blue-fish the lobsters had a bet- 
ter chance to multiply. 

The Blue-fish sometimes make their way up the rivers to 
a considerable distance, the adults, however, apparently never 
entering the perfectly fresh water. They are found in the 
Potomac as far north as Acquia Creek, and also far up the 
Hudson; indeed, the young of the year are taken as high as 
Sing Sing on the Hudson and in other tidal rivers, where 
the water is entirely fresh. 

Summing up all the evidence in regard to the periodical 
appearance of the Blue-fish, we find notice of its occurrence in 
1672, or even 1659, and up to 1764. How long it existed in 
the waters prior to that date cannot now be determined. The 
oral testimony of Mr. Parker refers to its occurrence at 
Wood's Holl in 1780 or 1790; and it is mentioned by Mr. 
Smith as being at New York in 1 800, and at Edgartown, Mass. , 
about the same time, by Capt. Pease. Mitchell testifies to 
its occurrence in New York, of very small size, in 18 10; and 
it is recorded as existing again in Nantucket in 1820, and 
about Wood's Holl and Buzzard's Bay in 1830 to 1831, and a 
little later at Hyannis. In 1830 it had become abundant 
about Nantucket, and in the fall of 1837 it was first noticed 
in Massachusetts B%, and then year by year it became more 
and more numerous, until now it is very abundant. Several 



1 84 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

accounts agree in reference to the very large size (even to 
forty or fifty pounds) of those taken in the last century. 

Further research into ancient records may tend to 
throw more light on the early history of the Blue-fish, and 
even materially to change the conclusions already reached. 
It will be observed that the references to its occurrence, 
from 177c to 1800, are on the testimony of aged persons 
who have heard their fathers speak of it, although I find no 
printed records anywhere in reference to it between 1764 and 
1810. The rate of progression to the north of Cape Cod 1 
have at present no means of indicating, although they proba- 
bly gradually ranged further and further north, and very 
possibly occurred much further east than we have any men- 
tion of at present. 

During the present century the maximum of abundance of 
these fish off the middle coast of the United States appears 
to have been reached from 1850 to i860. The testimony 
elicited from various observers, as well as from printed rec- 
ords, indicates a decrease since that period, much greater in 
some localities than others. About New York they are said 
to have been unusually plenty in the summer of 1871, but 
farther east the diminution which had been observed in pre- 
vious years appeared to continue. 

Diligent research by numerous inquiries during a period of 
sixteen years has added little to what Prof. Baird has stated, 
and it may be regarded as almost certain that Blue-fish do not 
spawn in our inshore waters. The only important contribu- 
tion to our knowledge on this subject is found in the notes 
of Mr. Silas Stearns, who believes that he has abundant evi- 
dence of their spawning in the Gulf of Mexico. His remarks 
are quoted in full below. The Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt 
records that he observed the Blue-fish fry less than an inch 
in length in the inlet of Far Rockaway, N. Y. , on the lOth of 
July. 

Little is known of their reproduction. Dr. Yarrow does 



THE BLUE-FISH. I 85 

not give any facts in regard to this subject, at Fort Macon, 
except that spawn was seen to run out of a small female 
caught July 14. Dr. Holbrook is also silent on this head. 
Mr. Genio C. Scott says the spawning beds are visited by 
the parent in June, and consist of quiet nooks or bays. Mr. 
R. B. Roosevelt states that very diminutive young occur in 
immense numbers along the coast at the end of September 
or beginning of October ("Game Fish of America," 1862, 
1859.) Prof. Baird found the young fish at Beesley's Point, 
N. J., in July, 1854, two or three inches in length, and more 
compressed than the adult; but farther east, on Vineyard 
Sound, although diligent search was conducted, beween the 
middle of June and the ist of October, with most efficient 
apparatus in the way of fine-meshed nets, I met with nothing 
excepting fish that made their appearance all at once along 
the edge of the bay and harbor. 

According to Capt. Edwards, of Wood's Holl, a very accu- 
rate observer, they have no spawn in them when in Vineyard 
Sound. This statement is corroborated by Capt. Hunckley; 
and Capt. Hallett of Hyannis, "does not know where they 
spawn." The only positive evidence on this subject is that 
of Capt. Pease, who states it as the general impression about 
Edgartown that they spawn about the last of July or the ist 
of August. He has seen them when he thought they were 
spawning on the sand, having caught them a short time be- 
fore, full of spawn, and finding them afterward for a time 
thin and weak. He thinks their spawning ground is on the 
white, sandy bottom to the eastward of Martha's Vineyard, 
toward Muskeeget. 

While not discrediting the statement of Mr. Pease, it seems 
a little remarkable that so few persons on the eastern coast 
have noticed the spawning in summer of the Blue-fish; and, 
although there maybe exceptions to the fact, it is not impos- 
sible that the spawning ground is in very early spring, or 
even in winter, off New Jersey and Long Island, or farther 



1 86 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

south. It is not impossible that, at a suitable period after 
spawning, the young, in obedience to their migratory instinct, 
may move northward along the coast, growing rapidly as 
they proceed. This explains the almost sudden appearance 
of fish of five inches about Wood's Holl. 

We have the statement of Dr. Yarrow that vast schools of 
small Blue-fish were met within Beaufort harbor during the 
last week in December, 1871. These were in company with 
small schools of young Menhaden and Yellow Tailed Shad, 
and were apparently working their way toward the sea by the 
route of the inlet. When observed, they were coming from 
the southward through the sound, moving very slowly, at 
times nearly leaving it, and then returning. The largest were 
about four inches in length, and others were much smaller; 
and as many as twenty schools were observed from the wharf 
at Fort Macon, each of them occupying an area of from sixty 
to eighty feet square, and apparently from four to six feet^ 
in depth. I would not be much surprised if these fish should 
prove to have been spawned late in the year, off the southern 
coast. 

The size of the Blue-fish varies with the season and the 
locality, those spending the summer on the southern coast, 
according to good authority, rarely exceeding two or three 
pounds in weight, and being generally considerably less. 
The largest summer specimens are those found farther to the 
eastward, where they are not infrequently met with weighing 
from ten to fifteen pounds, although this latter weight is quite 
unusual. Mr. Snow, of Nantucket, mentions having seen 
one of twenty-two pounds, and others give as their maximum 
from fourteen to twenty. The average size of the schools in 
Vineyard Sound, during the early season, is from five to seven 
pounds. The schools, however, that make their appearance 
in October embrace many individuals of from ten to fifteen 
pounds. It is, therefore, not improbable that the difference 
between the first mentioned average and the last represents 



THE BLUE-FISH. I 8/ 

the increase by their summer feeding. As already remarked, 
Blue-fish in the last century sometimes attained a weight of 
forty or fifty pounds in Vineyard Sound; according to Zac- 
cheus Macy, thirty of them will fill a barrel. 

Forest and Stream, June 25, 1874, stated that L. Hatha- 
way, Esq., a veteran fisherman, while fishing from the bridge 
at Cohasset Narrows, Mass., with rod and reel, captured a 
Blue-fish weighing twenty-five pounds. The largest previ- 
ously caught weighed seventeen pounds. On getting back 
to the Carolina coast in the early part of November, accord- 
ing to Dr. Yarrow's statement, they are from three to five 
feet in length and weigh from ten to twenty pounds. What 
becomes of these large fish, that so few of them are seen in 
the early spring, it is impossible to say. If it be really true 
that they are much scarcer than in the fall, we may infer 
that their increased size makes them a more ready prey to 
the larger fish and cetaceans, or that they have accomplished 
their ordinary period of life; possibly that they have broken 
up into smaller parties, less conspicuous to observation, or 
that they have materially changed their locality. The average 
length of the fish that appear in the spring off the coast of 
Virginia and the southern part of New Jersey, according to 
Dr. Coues, Dr. Yarrow and Prof. Baird, is about one foot, 
being probably about one year old. As a general rule, those 
of the smaller size keep close to the shore, and can always 
be met with, while the larger ones go in schools and remain 
farther outside. 

Prof. Baird obtained no very 3^oung fishatW^ood's Holl in 
1 871; the smallest found making their appearance quite sud- 
denly along the coast, especially in the little bays, about the 
middle of August, and then measuring about five inches by one 
and one-fifth inches. By the end of September, however, these 
had reached a length of seven or eight inches, and at the age 
of about a year they probably constitute the twelve or four- 
teen inch fish referred to as occurring along the southern 



1 88 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

coast. The fish of the third year, or those two years old, are 
possibly the three-pound fish, while the five to seven pound 
fish may be considered a year older still. Accurate observa- 
tions are wanting, however, to determine these facts; as also 
whether they require two years or three or more to attain 
sufficient maturity for breeding. As far as I know, there is 
no appreciable difference between the sexes in their rate of 
growth or weight, excepting that the female is likely to be a 
little deeper in the body. 

A Blue-fish weighing one pound measures about fourteen 
inches; two pounds, seventeen inches; three pounds, twenty- 
six inches; six pounds, twenty-six to twenty-seven inches, and 
eight pounds, twenty-nine inches. 

The Blue-fish is one of our most important of sea-fishes, 
and surpassed in public estimation only by the Spanish Mack- 
erel and the Pompano. It may be said to furnish a large part 
of the supply to the Middle and Northern States. It is a 
standard fish in New York, Boston and other seaports and 
is carried in great numbers into the interior. Its flesh is very 
sweet and savory, but it does not keep very well. In the 
Vineyard Sound the fishermen are in the habit of crimping 
their fish, or killing them, by cutting their throats in such 
a manner that they bleed freely. Every one who has oppor- 
tunities for observing admits that fish thus treated are far 
superior to any others. Great quantities of Blue-fish are 
frozen in New York for winter consumption. They are still 
considered unfit for food on our southern coast, and even in 
the markets of Washington, D. C, I have frequently been 
stopped by fish-dealers who asked me to assure their custom- 
ers that Blue-fish were eatable. They are growing in favor 
everywhere, however, just as they did in Boston. Capt. 
Atwood tells me that in 1865 but very few were sold in Bos- 
ton, and that the demand has been increasing ever since. 
When he first went to Boston with a load of Blue-fish he got 
two cents a pound for them; the second year they were scaicer 



THE BLUE-FISH. I 89 

and he got two and one-half cents, and the year afterward 
three cents. 

Within a few years the reputation of the Blue-fish among 
anglers has decidedly improved. Norris wrote, in 1865, that 
the Blue-fish was seldom angled for, and that it was not 
esteemed as food; in 1879, Hallock declares that the Blue- 
fish and the Striped Bass are the game fish par excellence of 
the brine, just as the Salmon and Black Bass are of fresh 
water. 

The favorite mode of capture is by trolling or squidding — a 
process already described. This amusement is participated 
in every summer by thousands of unskilled, but none the less 
enthusiastic, amateur fishermen, who in their sail-boats, trail 
the tide-rips from Cape May to Cape Cod. Many profes- 
sional fishermen also follow this pursuit, especially in the 
Vineyard Sound, about Nantucket and along the south shore 
of Cape Cod, a region famous for its swift cat-boats and fat 
Blue-fish. 

Another mode which is growing in favor is that of heaving 
and hauling in the surf, which has been already described in 
writing of the Striped Bass. No rod is used, but the angler, 
standing on the beach or in the breakers, whirls his heavy jig 
about his head and casts it far into the sea, and having 
hooked his fish puts his shoulder to the line, and walks up 
the beach, dragging his prize after him to the shore. This 
is practiced everywhere on the exposed sandy beaches, such 
as are found at Montauk, Monomoy, Newport, and Barnegat. 

Other anglers prefer to use a light rod and an artificial 
minnow from a stationary sk'ifi near where Blue-fish are break- 
ing, or to fish with shrimp bait from the wharves in quiet 
bays where the young "snappers" six to ten inches in length, 
abound. I have seen this kind of fishing at various points, 
from the mouth of the Florida St. John's to Nantucket. 

The Blue-fish has also an important rank among the com- 
mercial species. The wholesale dealers of New York handle 



I go AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

nearly 4, 000, 000 pounds annually. The yearly consumption of 
Blue-fish probably does not fall much below 8,000,000 pounds, 
valued at $500,000. The markets are supplied, for the 
most part, from three sources. Large quantities are taken in 
the weirs, forty or more in number, planted on the northern 
and southern shores of Cape Cod, in Buzzard's Bay, Martha's 
Vineyard, Narragansett Bay, Peconic Bay, and at Block 
Island. The yield of these is estimated at 1,300,000 pounds. 
Gill-nets on the southern New England coast are supposed 
to take about 3,000,000. Enormous quantities are also 
obtained by line fishermen about Hyannis, Edgartown, Nan- 
tucket, and Eastham, and on the shores of Long Island and 
New Jersey. 

On the 19th of August, 1874, I saw 12,000 taken from 
the long pound on the west shore of Block Island. 

The line-fishery is probably not less productive than the gill- 
netting. In 1875, we were cruising about Martha's Vineyard 
in the Fish Commission yacht "Mollie." Off Cape Pogue we 
noticed at least thirty cat-boats drailing for Blue-fish. These 
boats were about twenty feet in length, square-sterned and 
well housed over. Each carried three lines, one at the stern 
and two at the end of long rods projecting over each quarter. 
When we anchored at dusk in Edgartown harbor, these 
boats were coming in, dropping alongside of a New York 
market boat, which lay at the wharf. The bright lantern 
under the deck awning, the black forms of the fishermen, 
the busy changing of the little sails, the eager voices of bar- 
gaining, gave an impression of brisk trade. The same scene 
is repeated day after day, from July to October, in scores of 
New England seaport towns. 



THE MASCALONGE. 

BY DR. JAMES A. HENSHALL. 

Author of'''' Book of the Black Bass,'''' ''''More About the Black 

Bass,'''' etc. 

I ADOPT the name of Mascalonge for the largest and best 
member of the Pike family as it seems to be the accepted 
one with the majority of angling authors and anglers. 
The derivation of the name is involved in much obscurity 
and is ascribed to both Indian and French origin. It has 
been variously called Mascalonge, Muscalonge, Muskellunge, 
Muskallonge. Maskinonje, Alaskinonge, Masquinongy. etc., 
etc. On the statutes of Canada it is spelled "Maskinonge," 
and there is a county, and I believe a village, of that name in 
the Dominion. Mr. Fred Mather has investigated the origin 
and etymology of the word to a greater extent than any one 
else, and he favors the Chippewa derivation of the name; 
"Maskinonje," as opposed to the French derivation of 
"Masque allonge," and its variations. But common consent 
and custom has decreed among the majority of anglers, 
as I said before, that it is "Mascalonge," and Mascalonge it 
will be for generations to come. 

And lately there have been changes made in its scientific 
name, both generic and specific. For many years the Masca- 
longe has been known to naturalists and anglers as Esox 
Jiobilior — and a very good name by the way — but owing to 
the inflexible law of priority, nobilior must stand aside for 
masgitinongv, a name supposed to have been given by Dr. 
Mitchill — but his original description cannot be found, though 

191 



192 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

it is partly quoted by DeKay in his"Fishesof New York." On 
better evidence, perhaps, the generic name Esox is now dis- 
placed by the more suitable one of Lucius, so that our Mas- 
calonge must now be called Lucius masquinongy instead of 
Esox nobilior. 

However confusing and unnecessary, as many anglers are 
inclined to think is this matter of changes in fish nomenclature, 
they are not made without good and sufficient, and in most 
cases imperative, reasons. It is unfortunate when an old 
and characteristic name is displaced by a new and, it may 
be, an incongruous one, but it cannot be helped in the effort 
to arrive at a more perfect and permanent classification and 
nomenclature of our fishes. In connection with this recent 
change in the scientific names of the Mascalonge I might men- 
tion, as a curious instance of the irony of fate, that its scien- 
tific specific name is derived from the Chippewa, and its com- 
mon name from the French. 

The Mascalonge, or Muskellunge as it is usually pronounced, 
is a magnificent fish, truly the noblest of the pike family, 
being the largest game-fish of fresh waters, and the only 
member of the family fit for the table, though it has been 
much overrated in both respects. Its maximum weight is 
forty pounds, though it has been taken weighing fifty or 
sixty, and Dr. E. Sterling, of Cleveland, Ohio, states that 
he speared one in 1844 weighing eighty pounds! 

As there has always existed among anglers more or less 
confusion in reference to the identification of the Mascalonge 
Lucius masquijiongy and the true Pike or great northern 
Pickerel {^Lucius lucius), it may not be out of place, here, to 
say that the different species can always be readily determined 
by observing the scaling of the cheeks and gill-covers, 
and the number of branchiostegal rays, without reference to 
the coloration or markings of the body of the fishes. 

The lower margin of the gill-cover, in most fishes, is pro- 
vided with a membrane which extends under the throat, where 



THE MASCALONGE 1 93 

it meets its fellow of the opposite side in the median line. 
This membrane assists in closing the gill-openings; and in 
order that it can be open and shut readily, it is provided with 
a number of parallel bony rays called branchiostegals, which 
vary in number in different fishes. In the Mascalonge 
there are from 17 to 19 on each side, while in the true Pike 
or great northern Pickerel there are but 14 to 16, and in the 
eastern Pickerel [Lticius reticulatiis) and western or Grass 
Pickerel {Lucius venniculatus) 12 or 13. 

Just back of and below the eye is the cheek [pre-opercle), 
and behind this is the gill-cover {opercle). In the Masca- 
longe the lower half of both cheek and gill-cover is entirely 
naked, while the upper half of both is more or less covered 
with scales. In the Pike the scaling of the gill-cover is simi- 
lar to that of the Mascalonge, but the whole of the cheek is 
covered with scales, while in the eastern Pickerel and the 
little western or Grass Pickerel, both gill-cover and cheek 
are entirely clothed with scales. 

I have examined specimens of the Mascalonge from the St. 
Lawrence; Lake Erie; Indian River, New York; the Upper 
Mississippi; Eagle Waters of Wisconsin; Conneaut Lake, of 
Western Pennsylvania; Chatauqua Lake, of Western New 
York; and the heads of six specimens from the tributaries of 
the Ohio River (one from Tennessee River), and find that 
there are no important structural differences; they all agree 
so well in regard to the number of branchiostegals, and in 
the squamation of the cheeks and gill-covers, and in measure- 
ments, that they must be considered as one and the same 
species, with a geographical variation in coloration only. 

In the Mascalonge of the St. Lawrence basin the sides are 
covered with roundish, dark gray or blackish spots, more or 
less distinct, on a lighter colored, greenish or grayish ground. 
These spots are more pronounced in the young, being then 
quite dark and distinct, but in the adult they become more 
/J 



194 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

diffused and of a grayish hue, though always more distinct 
toward the tail. 

A few years ago it was thought that the habitat of the Mas- 
calonge was confined to the Great Lakes and the St. Law- 
rence River and its tributaries, and that it occurred nowhere 
outside of these limits. As shown above, however, it is now 
known that its range is much more extensive. It was also 
supposed that in all cases the Mascalonge was always dark- 
spotted on a lighter-colored ground; but as already stated, 
while the young are always thus marked, these dark spots 
become more or less obscure or obsolete with age, and the 
largest specimens will exhibit a uniform grayish coloration, 
with brownish or greenish reflections. I liave seen large exam- 
ples from the St. Lawrence basin that were apparently iden- 
tical in color with others from Eagle Waters and the Upper 
Mississippi of similar size and weight. 

In the Pike or northern Pickerel, the sides of old and 
young are always covered with oval whitish or yellowish 
spots, always lighter than the ground color, which is usually 
grayish or olivaceous. 

In 1820, Rafinesque mentioned two Pikes as existing in the 
Ohio and Mississippi basins (Esox vittatiis and Esox sal- 
uioncus), growing to a length of from three to five feet, and 
though his descriptions are very imperfect, almost worthless 
in fact, I am confident that he had in mind the Mascalonge, 
which was more plentiful there at that time than now. 

The Mascalonge, like all of the Pike family, is a typically 
piscivorous fish, its large mouth, jaws and tongue being armed 
with a terrible array of long, sharp and conical teeth of vari- 
ous sizes, forming veritable chcvaux-dc-frise from which 
there is no escape for the unlucky fish that is so unfortunate 
as to be seized by the cruel and relentless jaws. 

Like all animals of prey, the Mascalonge is solitary in its 
habits, lying concealed among the water-plants and bull- 
rushes at the edges of the streams or channels, or along the 



THE MASCALONGE. 



^95 









196 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

shores; and woe to the luckless fish that passes within sight 
of the fierce marauder, for its doom is sealed when this fresh- 
water shark rushes open-mouthed upon its victim with a 
speed and force as though hurled from a catapult. 

The number of fishes destroyed by a Mascalonge during a 
summer is almost incredible; and they are not small fry and 
young fishes, such as are devoured by other predacious fishes, 
but those that have escaped the many dangers and vicissi- 
tudes of adolescence, and have arrived at an age when they 
are capable of reproducing their kind. 

It is indeed fortunate for the rest of the finny tribe that 
the Mascalonge is comparatively a rare fish. The Masca- 
longe, like others of the pike family, breeds in the spring, 
later however than the Pike or Pickerel. All of the pike 
species resort to overflowed marshes and shallow, grassy 
streams to spawn — the Pickerel during March and the Masca- 
longe in May. 

The Pickerel thus has a start of about two months, and no 
doubt the young Pickerel devour most of the Mascalonge that 
hatch, for the spawn in May, in such shallow water, is ex- 
posed to the ravages of turtles, frogs, ducks and coots, and 
most of it is doubtless destroyed. This seems to be a wise pro- 
vision of nature, for as the Mascalonge spawns from 100,000 
to 300,000 eggs, according to size, the result can be imagined 
were the same proportion of eggs to hatch and reach matu- 
rity as in the case of most other fishes. 

In comparison with the rest of its family the Mascalonge is 
a valuable food-fish, though, as already intimated, it is much 
overrated, and is inferior to the White-fish, Lake Trout, Black 
Bass or Brook Trout for the table. It is, however, readily dis- 
posed of in the markets, and while possessing no special or 
characteristic flavor, its flesh is firm and flaky, and is much 
admired by many, but — cliacini a son gout. 

Likewise as a game-fish the Mascalonge is far superior to 
the rest of its family, and when upward of ten pounds its 



THE MASCALOXGE. 1 97 

great vitality, weight and power give it an endurance that 
is highly extolled by some, but it can hardly be compared to 
the Salmon, Black Bass, or Brook Trout for pure gameness, 
per sc\ that is, it does not exhibit the finesse and elan of 
those superb game-fishes. 

A large fish may swim with a hook in its mouth for a week, 
but that is merely an evidence of endurance, not of gameness. 
And as a large Mascalonge is frequently hooked by an an- 
gler on a light rod, and the angler, being awed by the weight of 
the fish and its fierce rushes, is afraid to give it the full spring 
and power of the rod but gives line instead, and consequently 
plays it in a timid, half-hearted manner for an hour, or maybe 
two or three hours, until finally after both fish and man are 
exhausted, the one is gaffed and the other has just breath 
enough to exclaim that the Mascalonge is the "kmg of game- 
fishes." 

As a matter of fact, with suitable tackle, any fish should be 
brought to gaff or net in a minute to the pound — that is, a 
five-pound fish within five minutes, a ten-pound fish within 
ten minutes, or a thirty-pound fish within a half-hour. 

I once killed a St. Lawrence Mascalonge of thirty-two 
pounds in twenty minutes with an eight-ounce Henshall 
Black-Bass rod, and gaffed it fairly. A very expert and ac- 
complished lady angler, the charming wife of the late Surgeon 
General Baxter, killed several fresh-run Salmon, on the 
Restigouche during the summer of 1886 (I was there the same 
season), that weighed from twenty-five to thirty-five pounds 
each, and brought each fish to gaff in from twenty to thirty 
minutes. And, really, ten minutes is a long time to play a 
fish — to many it seems an hour. 

Most Mascalonge, however, are taken with hand-line and 
trolling-spoon, and hauled in hand-over-hand. With a taut 
line and moving boat the Mascalonge sometimes leaps above 
the water, because it cannot get very far beneath the sur- 
face; as a rule, however, and when on the rod, it does not 



198 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

leave the water, and will not leap unless forced to do so, but 
will endeavor to keep near the bottom, or to reach the cover 
of weeds or rushes. 

With proper tackle the Mascalonge affords good sport, for 
being a powerful fish it requires much skill and judgment on 
the part of the angler to keep it away from the moss and 
grass of the bottom, or from the weeds and rtj/^t? of the shore, 
and to successfully bring it to gaff within a reasonable time. 

The rod should be a good one of split-bamboo, or of ash 
and lance-wood, and should weigh not more than ten, or at 
the most twelve ounces, and should not exceed nine feet in 
length. A first-class multiplying reel is indispensable, with 
seventy-five yards of plaited silk line. No. 3, or letter E. 
The hook should be a Sproat or an O'Shaughnessy, No. 3-0 
to 5-0, and tied on a gimp snell. The best bait is a large 
live minnow, or frog, either for casting or trolling, though for 
the latter mode of fishing a large trolling-spoon with a single 
hook may be used. 

Rowing slowly and cautiously along some twenty or thirty 
yards outside of the weed-patches, the bait should be cast 
to the edge of the weeds, reeling it in again very slowly, or 
if the bait is alive it may be permitted to swim, just outside 
of the weeds, for several seconds or a half-minute before 
reeling. By moving along and making frequent casts the 
angler's chances are much better than in still-fishing; or the 
bait, or a spoon may be trolled along the edges of the water- 
plants from a moving boat. The Mascalonge bites very sav- 
agely, and should be hooked at once, before he has time to 
take to his lair among the weeds. 

When a fish is hooked the boatman should pull at once for 
deep water, that is, away from the weeds, and he should 
be ready at all times to favor the angler in playing the fish 
by careful and judicious management of the boat. When the 
fish is brought alongside, the gaff should be passed under the 
fish, slowly and deliberately, avoiding all sudden and ener- 



THE MASCALONGE. 199 

getic movements, and then by a quick upward and drawing 
motion the fish should be gaffed in the throat or breast, 
taken into the boat, and killed by a smart stroke on the head. 

These instructions apply to the Mascalonge of northern 
waters, where it resorts to weedy lakes and streams; but in 
the Ohio and its tributaries the Mascalonge is found in the 
summer and autumn in the deepest holes of the streams, and 
they are then taken by still-fishing, the bait being usually 
suckers of a half-pound or more in weight. After taking the 
bait, the fish is given time to gorge it before striking or hook- 
ing. 

It is now, however, a rare occurrence to take a "Pike," as 
it is called, in these waters; and the fact is talked of long 
afterward, and the head preserved as a trophy, while the fish 
itself, being esteemed a great delicacy on account of its great 
size and rarity, is made the piece de 7-esistance of a formal 
dinner, instead of being preserved for a piece justificative. 
For five years I have endeavored to procure a specimen of 
this rare fish in the Ohio basin, but, beyond the head, my 
efforts have so far failed. No one who is so fortunate as to 
capture a "Pike" seems willing to part with it for love of 
science or coin of the realm. 



THE MASCALONGE IN WISCONSIN WATERS. 

BY A. A. MOSHER. 

The "Great Pike" of the Mississippi system of waters, like 
its great congener of the St. Lawrence waters, is one of the 
largest of our fresh-water game-fishes. It, the first named, 
has its equal in regard to size and game qualities in 
the "Barred Mascalonge" which, so far as the writer knows, 
has not been classified, and he would respectfully suggest 



200 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

that the cognomen of this fish be "Esox Major." There 
is still another, locally called "Spotted Mascalonge," which is 
equal in size to the others above mentioned and as gamy as 
they are. The three great fishes belonging to the Mississippi 
waters will, in this article, be treated separately, to a certain 
extent. 

"Esox Nobilior," called also "Esox Estor," will not be con- 
sidered carefully, but will be referred to occasionally. "Esox 
Immaculatus" is found in many of the waters of the Missis- 
sippi basin but not in all. It is found in the deep holes of 
some of the tributaries, and especially in the waters flowing 
into the Wisconsin River, and in the many lakes whose out- 
lets lead into the last named stream. And it is to those 
fishes that the reader's attention will be especially directed 
herein. In nearly all of the lakes in northern Wisconsin, 
which have outlets into the Wisconsin River, the "Esox Im- 
maculatus," the Barred and the Spotted Mascalonge, are found 
in abundance — the three appearing to be inseparable or 
nearly so. The "Barred 'Lunge" is a large fish, and the most 
plentiful, generally speaking. 

On the loth of February, 1890, I measured one which in 
proportion was a fair specimen of the three kinds. Its length 
was 46 inches; weight 26 pounds; end of tail to anus, 3 
inches; anal fin to root of tail, 4 inches; dorsal fin to root 
of tail, 5 inches; breadth of tail, 10 inches; end of nose ta 
pectoral fin, 9 inches; between pectoral fins and lower belly 
fins, 1 3 inches ; end of nose to end of gills, 1 2 inches ; eye to end 
of upper jaw, 5 inches; depth widest part, 9 inches; back 
of head to eyes, 3 inches; spread of jaws, 6 inches; width of 
head, top, 4 inches. This was a fair specimen, fresh from 
the water. It was a female, full of eggs, which accounts for 
its great depth. 

On the Barred "'Lunge" the bars are transverse, and com- 
mence near the back and extend to the edge of the belly, 
that is to say some of them do, while others go only part way, 



THE MASCALONGE IN WISCONSIN WATERS. 201 

being quite irregular all over the sides, without any apparent 
system; the dorsal fin is marked the same. 

In the spotted variety the spots are also irregularly placed 
and the intervening space partially filled by transverse bars, 
the dorsal fin marked with distinctive round black spots, 
exactly the same as in the common Gar. 

The "Esox Immaculatus" has no distinctive marks, the back 
being dark green, which color extends down the sides, fading, 
as it extends downward, into a greenish yellow where it blends 
with the white on the belly. These distinctive marks are on 
the barred and spotted specimens when very small, not over 
two or three inches long, which shows that they are different 
in marking, at least, from the moment of leaving the egg or 
nearly so. These three varieties are found together, and in 
fishing for them one is as likely to catch one kind as another. 
In size and proportions there is no perceptible difference in 
the three, and in the spring while they are spawning, they 
are found together at the same time and place, which would 
go to show that they are really of one family, for the spotted 
male is as likely to be found with a barred female as with a 
spotted one, or with an "Esox Immaculatus," so called. 
Nature is not to be disputed, and whatever she does she does 
correctly. 

Admitting then that there are these three varieties of fish in 
these waters, it would go to show that, while apparently sepa- 
rated species, they are all of the same family. It may be that 
away back in the past during some very high waters, some 
of the St. Lawrence variety got over into the Mississippi 
waters and mating with Esox Immaculatus produced a hybrid 
in the Spotted and Barred Mascalonge, and that nature, for 
some inscrutable reason, has kept up these markings in dif- 
ferent individuals. 

Pisciculture is comparatively (in my humble opinion) in its 
infancy, and no doubt these facts will eventually be accounted 
for. We already know that fish can, and have been hybri- 



:^02 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

dized, the offspring being fertile and partaking of the charac- 
teristics of both parents. There are undoubtedly places where 
the Lake Superior waters rise in some large marsh, the marsh 
extending for miles, the north part emptying into Superior, 
the south part into Mississippi waters. There is now, within 
a couple of miles of where this is being written, (in Northern 
Wisconsin) a small marsh, but a few acres in extent, the 
waters of which pass out of the north end, emptying into Lac 
Vieux Desert, the south end emptying, by a similar stream, 
into the Wisconsin River. Now if this happens here, it may 
elsewhere. While this would not, of course, be proof positive 
that these fish had gotten together in this way and crossed, 
yet it furnishes what would appear a plausible explanation of 
the occurrence of these several varieties of Mascalonge, and 
the subject is certainly worthy of investigation. 

That these three kinds of Mascalonge are here and marked 
as above stated cannot be denied; on the other hand it can be 
substantiated by hundreds of good men who have caught them 
in numbers. I am aware that the above statement is and 
has been questioned by men who pretend to know, and who 
claim to be authorities; but facts are stubborn things, and 
the truth is sure to prevail in the end. 

These fine fish are to be found, as soon as the ice goes 
out, near the shores, among the rushes and grasses, seeking 
a proper place to deposit their spawn. This spawn is not 
very glutinous (as in some kinds of fishes, the Pike, Perch or 
Wall-eyed Pike, for instance), but are just enough so to cause 
them to fasten to some weed or grass, in shoal water, where the 
sun's rays can warm the water and thus hatch out the fry. 
Mascalonge delight to lurk among weeds or in old tree tops 
that have fallen in the water; there they will lie, for hours, 
perfectly motionless. I have trolled past one, lying in a tree- 
top, the spoon passing within a few feet of him repeatedly, he 
taking no notice of it whatever until, finally, he would slip 
away. 



THE MASCALONGE IN WISCONSIN WATERS. 203 

When lying in this way, basking in the sun, they rarely 
take bait unless it be unusually attractive, but when lurking 
in the weeds or rushes, waiting for some living victim, they 
will take artificial bait voraciously 

They do not seem to be so voracious however as their 
smaller cousin, the Pickerel, and there are times when for 
•days together, no amount of coaxing will induce them to take 
bait of any kind. 

When they do take it, then look out, for they strike with 
such tremendous force as to astonish the no\ ice, and if he 
happens to have the line too loose or in any way snarled, 
away goes his fish, and all he has to show for it is a good 
scare. They are very powerful and quick, and it is no child's 
play to handle a large one. Even the experienced angler will 
have his hands full, and will be called upon to exert all his 
skill to save the monster, and even after he has apparently 
given up, lies on his side or back, is hauled alongside fcr the 
gaff to finish the work, he frequently gives a tremendous 
surge and away he goes for a final run that will test the 
tackle to its utmost. 

This noble fish is well entitled to the name of the "Tarpon 
of the North," and will in time be so called. He is a grand 
fighter, and never gives up until he is actually dead. 

Talk about Black Bass, or any other kind of fresh-water 
fish! There are none that can compare with this leviathan 
of our inland waters, for pluck and gaminess. 

West of the Mississippi those fish do not seem to be so com- 
mon, though I have been told that in Elbow Lake, in the Lake 
Park region of Minnesota, they are numerous and grow to a 
great size. How true this is I cannot say, but that there are 
large fish in that lake, similar to the Mascalonge, I have no 
doubt. 

These grand fish are found in Northern Wisconsin m the 
following waters: Pelican Lake, Tomahawk and adjoining 
lakes, Arbor Vitse, St. Germain lakes. Trout Lake, the Eagle 



204 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Waters, a chain of lakes through which Eagle River passes. 
Three Lakes and others connected therewith; Buckatarbon 
Lake Lac Vieux Desert,* Big and Little Twin Lakes, Long 
Lake, Sand Lake, and various others, many of which have 
not yet been explored or named. In nearly all these lakes 
the three specimens are found. 

To the angler this region is a paradise. Abounding as it 
does with beautiful scenery, ever-changing and always wild, it 
will for years to come be a favorite resort for lovers of nature. 

During the year of 1889 some 400 Mascalonge were 
taken from Lac Vieux Desert, of sizes ranging from 
three pounds to forty-two and one-half pounds, and there 
seems to be no diminution in their numbers. This lake is 
about five miles long and from one to three miles wide. In 
early spring the best place to seek these fish is very close to 
the shore, so close in fact that one can use but little line and 
where the guide can push along with the paddle, by resting 
it on the bottom. 

My experience in trolling teaches me that a long line out is 
unnecessary. From fifteen to twenty feet is enough, in fact. 
I have caught large ones within six feet of the boat. A good 
way is to go out where the weeds or lily-pads are thick, and. 
cast with a spoon or large shiner. Lac Vieux Desert is 
quite a shallow lake, being only twelve feet deep in the deep- 
est place, and is very weedy. It is the head of the Wiscon- 
sin River. In some of the other lakes where the water is 
clear and deep, these fish seem to be just as numerous as in 
Vieux Desert, so it seems they are equally at home in widely 
different waters. 

These fish ought to be protected, and why some of our 
enterprising Fish Commissions have not taken steps to prop- 
agate them, artificially, is not known. 

My experience and observation lead me to believe that it 



* Pronounced "View Desare." 



THE MASCALONGE IN WISCONSIN WATERS. 205 

would be an easy matter to propagate them, and it is to be 
hoped that it may be tried at an early day. 

In June, 1888, I was at Big Twin lake, where I had caught 
several large Mascalcnge, and being informed that Lac Vieu.x 
Desert was a good lake for these fish, I took Fred French 
of Three Lakes and went over to investigate. 

We got there too late for much fishing that day, so we 
waited till morning. We started out before breakfast and 
trolled along the west shore, just outside of the rushes, for 
about two miles, catching an occasional Bass, Pike or Pick- 
erel, and when we got near what is locally known as "'Lunge 
Point," all at once there was a fearful rush and commotion, 
and we knew we had a big one. 

Down he went, taking line rapidly, until he must have 
found the bottom in forty feet of water. Then up he came 
clear out of water, his glistening sides sparkling in the rays 
of the rising sun, shaking his ponderous jaws in a mighty 
effort to get rid of the cruel barb. He was kept well in hand 
and not allowed a foot of slack line. Three times he vaulted 
clear out of the water, and fought like a tiger while in his ele- 
n.ent. The struggle was a long and determined one, but he 
finally gave up, when Fred gaffed him and lifted him into the 
boat. There he lay in all his beauty, his magnificent sides 
rising and falling as he sought to breathe in the lighter ele- 
ment. He had an ugly look in his eyes, that warned us to 
keep clear of his rugged fangs. After admiring him some 
minutes I told Fred this was glory enough for an early morn- 
ing, and we bent our oars for camp. At the house our prize 
tipped the beam at thirty-three pounds, good, honest weight. 
After breakfast we started out again and before ten o'clock 
returned with six Mascalonge, weighing seventy-two pounds, 
one Pickerel of twelve pounds, one Large-mouth Bass, six 
pounds, one Wall-eyed Pike of nine and a quarter pounds, 
besides various other smaller fish, making a total weight of 
one hundred and twenty pounds. I was tired out and said 
to the guide that I had had sport enough for one dav. 



206 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

The rig used for this work was an eight-ounce Goodridge 
combination rod, a "G" Hnen line, to a common multiplying 
reel, and a number eight Skinner spoon. The line was a new 
one, but it was so frayed when we quit werk that it was 
taken off and is still in my tackle box, kept as a memento 
of one of the grandest pieces of sport I ever enjoyed. 

On the fifth of August, 1887, Mr. L. Thomas came to me 
and said, "Don't you want to go out and catch a 'Lunge," and 
I said that was just what I did want, and we were soon on 
the water with his son Louis as the third member of the 
party. It was about four p. M. when we threw out our lines. 
Mr. Thomas had a hand-line, a number 4 Hill gold bait, 
a double gang of hooks number 8, and a large chub min- 
now hooked to the upper gang. I had* my old rod, a small 
line, a double Skinner spoon, one number 7, the other num- 
ber 8, with a double gang of number 8 hooks and a large chub 
on upper gang. 

We had proceeded but a short distance when Mr. Thomas 
had a strike, and after the usual course of maneuvering we 
took his victim in, started on again and soon it came my turn. 
I had a lusty strike, and after playing after my fish some 
time and the weeds being thick we went ashore and slid him 
out on the stones very nicely. Mr. Thomas now changed 
with his son and took the oars. In a short time Louis had 
a strike, and as his fish proved to be a large one we went ashore 
again, at the same place, and landed this specimen without 
trouble. This last one weighed thirty-eight pounds, and his 
stuffed skin is now on exhibition in the city ticket office of the 
M. L. S. & W. Ry. at Chicago. We started again and 
soon I got another large one, but he got into the weeds, in 
spite of all I could do, and I lost him. 

We then started for home, and just before we got to the 
rushes, Mr. Thomas, who had the line again, had a heavy 
strike but he missed. He said to his son, "Turn right 
around; we'll go over that ground again and get that fellow 



THE MASCALONGE IN WISCONSIN WATERS. 20/ 

yet." After passing over the spot twice and getting no strike 
I proposed giving him up, but Mr. Thomas who had had * 
more experience than I, said, "No; we'll try him once more," 
and as we passed over the spot a third time the old Esox 
took my spoon with a terrific splash. 

"There you have him," said Thomas. I at once realized 
that, and I had him sure enough. After a long and hotly con- 
tested fight we took him in and went ashore. The four fish 
weighed, respectively, thirty-eight, thirty and one-half, twen- 
ty-nine and one-half, and thirty-three pounds, and a prettier 
sight I never saw — those noble fellows lying side by side. 
To say we were proud would illy express our feelings. 




308 



THE BROOK TROUT. 

BY F. H. THURSTON. 

THE Spotted Brook Trout, Salvclinus fontinalis, is one 
of the most beautiful fishes in existence. It belongs to 
the division of the Salmon family known to the English 
as "Chars, "a group confined for the most part to fresh-water 
brooks and streams, and, according to Professor Goode, 
distinguished from the true Salmons by a peculiar arrange- 
ment of teeth on the vomer, and also by their very small 
scales, and usually by numerous crimson or orange-colored 
spots, which are especially conspicuous in the breeding sea- 
son. Its home is between latitudes 32^ degrees and 55 
degrees, in the lakes and streams of the Atlantic water-shed, 
near the sources of a few rivers flowing into the Mississippi 
and the Gulf of Mexico, and in some of the southern affluents 
of Hudson Bay. Its range is limited by the southern foot- 
hills of the Alleghanies, and nowhere extends more than three 
hundred miles from the coast, except about the Great Lakes, 
in the northern tributaries of which Trout abound. At 
the south it inhabits the head-waters of the Chattahoochee, in 
the southern spurs of the Georgia Alleghanies, and tributaries 
of the Catawba in North Carolina. It also occurs in the 
Great Islands in the Gulf of St, Lawrence — Anticosti, Prince 
Edward, Cape Breton and Newfoundland. 

The shape, size and coloration of the Speckled Trout vary 
much according to the conditions of food and w^ater under 
which it exists. There are waters in which it is so nearly black 
14 209 



2IO AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

as often, except upon close examination, to be mistaken for the 
chub, or other fish. In some waters, as for example those 
of the tributaries of Torch Lake, in Michigan, the Trout 
which were planted some years ago, still retain to some 
extent their distinctive characteristics of shape and color, 
and may often be distinguished from the native Trout. The' 
following extracts are from "Goode's American fishes." 

''When Trout have no access to the sea, they still contrive 
to avoid a change of temperature with the seasons. In mid- 
summer they lie in the bottoms of the lakes cooled by springs, 
in the channels of streams, or in deep pools, lurking behind 
rocks and among roots. In. spring and early summer they 
feed industriously among the rapids. At the approach of 
cold weather in the autumn they hasten to the clear shal- 
low water near the heads of the streamlets. It is at this 
time that they deposit their eggs in little nests in the gravel, 
which the mother-fish have shaped with careful industry, 
fanning out the finer particles with their tails, and carrying 
the large ones in their mouths. After the eggs are laid, the 
parent fish covers them with gravel, and proceeds to excavate 
another nest. The same nests are said to be revisited by 
the schools year after year. 

"The spawning season begins in New England in October, 
continuing from three to six months, and during this period 
the fish should be protected by stringent laws. Mr. Livings- 
ton Stone observed that in his ponds at Charleston, N. H., 
spawning began October 12th, and ended early in Decem- 
ber; at Seth Green's establishment near Rochester, N. Y., 
it began on the same day and continued until March. At 
the former station spring water, with a uniform temperature 
of 47 degrees, was in use, while at Caledonia the eggs were 
kept in brook water, which is colder in mid-winter, retard- 
ing development." 

There seems to be some uncertainty regarding the duration 
of the spawning season. In Northern Michigan I have taken 



THE BROOK TROUT 



211 




2 12 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Trout containing well developed spawn, in each of the sum- 
mer months. Such cases are not infrequent, and I believe 
that similar observations have elsewhere been made. 

Trout are cold water fishes, and according to Green, can- 
not thrive in water warmer than 68 degrees Fahr. They 
are at their best at the approach of winter. They rarely 
exceed two or three pounds in weight, except in a few favored 
localities. I remember long ago an offer of P. T. Barnum of 
a prize for a four-pound Spotted Trout, but none was forthcom- 
ing. In the Rangeley Lakes they have been taken weighing 
eleven pounds or more. One taken in 1867, in Rangeley 
Lake, weighed ten pounds after three days captivity, and 
was thought by experts to have lost a pound and a half in 
transit from Maine to New Jersey, where it died. Its length 
was thirty inches, and its circumference eighteen. 

"The Nipigon River claims still heavier fish. Hallock 
mentions one said to have weighed seventeen pounds." 

According to Agassiz, these large Trout may have reached 
the age of one or two hundred years. "The rate of growth 
is determined by the amount of food consumed. Some two- 
year-old fish weigh a pound, some half an ounce, as Mr. 
Stone's experience shows." 

Endless are the dissertations which have been written in 
praise of the Speckled Trout and its pursuit "with the angle." 
but no one has as yet succeeded in so portraying this sport and 
its objects as fully to equal the remembrances which live ever in 
the memory of an old and successful Trout-fisher. For him 
there is no sport like Trout-fishing, and though seduced per- 
haps from time to time by the lordly Salmon, the silvery Tar- 
pon, or other of our notable game-fishes north or south, he 
ever returns with renewed zest to the pine-shadowed lake 
or brawling mountain stream — the scenes of earlier tri- 
umphs; and as he sees the bright hues of a ten-inch Trout 
gleaming through the meshes of his landing net, he once more 
says, as often in the past: "Well, there's nothing like Trout- 
fishins: after all." 



THE BROOK TKOLT. 213 

Should an}' doubt that the Speckled Trout is fully entitled 
to distinction as emphatically a gentleman among fishes, the 
following quotation from Mr. James W. Miller should forever 
set the question at rest: 

"His whole wooing is the most polite attention and the 
gentlest of persuasions. He moves continually to and fro 
before his mate, parading his bright colors, while she rests 
quietly, with her head up stream, vibrating her fins just suffi- 
ciently to keep her from floating down. At Waterville, 
Wisconsin, I had the opportunity of watching their habits. 

"A pair of large Trout had selected a spot near the bank 
of the stream, where the water was about ten inches deep. 
The female had fanned the gravel with her tail and anal 
fin until it was clean and white, and had succeeded in excavat- 
ing a cavity. They were frightened away as I came to the 
edge of the bank. Concealing myself behind a willow bush, 
I watched their movements. The male returned first, recon- 
noitering the vicinit}', and satisfying himself that the coast 
was clear, spent a half-hour in endeavoring to coax the female 
to enter the nest. She, resting half-concealed in the weeds, 
a few feet away, seemed unwilling to be convinced that the 
danger was gone; and he, in his full, bright colors, sailed back- 
ward and forward from the nest to his mate, rubbing him- 
self against her, and swimming ofi again in a wide circle 
close along the bank, as if to show her how far he could venture 
without finding danger. She finally entered the nest." 

Trout are also pugnacious at times, and have been known 
to engage in desperate conflicts with each other, sometimes 
resulting in the death of one or both of the combatants. 

Many and various are the haunts of the Spotted Trout; 
from the pebbly shallows of the crystal lake, or the tranquil 
reaches and foamy pools of the tumbling river, where it is a 
joy to cast the fly, to the cold spring brooks far up on the 
mountain side, hidden by rocks and brushwood, and some- 
times flowing unseen for many a rood, through subterraneous 



2 14 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

channels. Again the home of the Trout is in a rushing river, 
sometimes many yards in width, and bridged throughout by 
a tangled wilderness of cedar trees, some standing, but many 
of their trunks lying at every possible angle, and in all stages 
of decay. Through this series of obstructions the patient an- 
gler works his way, sometimes losing sight of the stream while 
he hears it gurgling beneath the mossy log on which he finds 
his footing, then, a few feet further on, he sees below a black 
pool of icy water, perhaps not three feet across, but of un- 
known depth. Here, as in the rare glimpses of running 
water on the semi-subterraneous mountain streams, the fly 
is useless. 

Some think that the skilled fly-fisher never uses bait. He 
does, an' he be wise. Few are older or reckoned better an- 
glers than Dr. William C. Prime, who says: 

"The true angler is not confined to fly-fishing, as many 
imagine. When the fly can be used, it always should be 
used, but where the fly is impracticable, or when fish will not 
rise to it, he is a very foolish angler who declines to use 
bait." 

Many good and sportsman-like Trout-fishers there are, who 
when circumstances render such effort feasible, will use noth- 
ing but the fly, but who from the nature of the streams 
among which they are compelled to seek their pastime, find 
it often advisable to resort to bait. 

Bait-fishing, in the words of Genio C. Scott, "is of all 
field sports the parent of more patience and eager persever- 
ance than any other;" and Thomas Tod. Stoddart, writing of 
summer fishing in Scotland, offers to prove "that worm-fish- 
ing for Trout, when the waters are clear and low, the skies 
bright and warm," "requires essentially more address and 
experience, as well as better knowledge of the habits and 
instincts of the fish, than fly-fishing." 

True is the saying: "It is not all of fishing to fish." and 
while there is a mild pleasure in casting a fly over the roof 



THE BROOK TROUT. 2 J 5 

of a sixteen-story flat, and a deep satisfaction in making 
the longest cast at an angling tournament, there is yet no 
feeling which can take the place of that in the mind of the 
tired and muddy angler, who as he wends his way homeward in 
the gloaming, is reminded by the weight of his creel, of the 
various incidents of weather, stream, rock, tree, flower, bird, 
animal, insect and fish which together have combined to 
make up his successful day's fishing. 

The Brook Trout! How the memories of early and later 
days throng upon the mind of a "down-east" angler at the 
name. I remember as it were yesterday, when, a little boy, 
and listening wide-eyed to the converse of my elders, I heard 
such stories of great strings of beautiful Trout brought home 
from the brooks as set my blood on fire to emulate these 
achievements. Would I never be big enough to go Trout-fish- 
ing? 

There was upon my father's farm a meadow through which 
ran a sparkling brook with pebbly bottom. As I one day 
approached this little stream, I saw a fish dart under a log 
which lay buried in the water. It must be a Trout, and here 
at last was my opportunity. I had a small silken line and 
several hooks, which had been given me by my big brother 
in Boston; and rapidly as possible, I hastened home, cut a 
stout apple-tree wand, and rigged my tackle. Placing upon 
the hook a worm, I hurried to the haunt of the Trout. I had 
heard enough of the modus operandi of the sport to keep out 
of sight; and carefully — very carefully, I approached the 
brook. My heart thumped loudly against my ribs as slowly 
the bait settled upon the water — I couldn't do it better to- 
day, though nearly fifty years have passed since; like a gleam of 
light, the Trout darted across the pool, and straight there was 
a thrilling tug upon the line. The lithe sprout bent double 
to the weight of the fish, for it was a good half-pounder; 
and when at last he lay quivering among the clover-blossoms, 
there was in all the northern land no prouder boy than I. 



2l6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

In those days we used hickory rods — poles we called them; 
and one merit at least they had — they never broke. The 
line or hook might fail at sorest need, but for the pole, you 
could surge and strain your best, and never fear consequences. 
It was with one of these machines, wire-ringed and copper- 
ferruled, that I first cast a fly. The rod weighed several 
pounds, and casting was no boy's play; so that I soon wearied 
of the fruitless labor, and seating myself upon a stone, 
allowed the fly — I remember that it was small and red — to 
drift upon the surface of the current while I sought in my 
pocket for my luncheon. As I lazily watched the fly de- 
scending into a foamy pool just below my seat, there was a 
gleam and a mighty surge. I grasped the rod — too late, the 
fish had detected the imposition and vanished. No further 
thought of luncheon. I fished that pool for hours, but no 
rise rewarded my efforts. Next morning I was again upon 
the spot, having meanwhile obtained another fly — a black 
hackle. This I added to my cast, and very carefully dropped 
it upon the surface of the brook. There was no rise, but as 
I was retrieving the line, and before I knew what had hap- 
pened, a large Trout was fast to the hook. How I managed 
to save him I can hardly say, but save him I did, and ran 
exultant home. I caught no Trout as large as this in many 
after years. 

When I was young, an old friend and experienced fly-fisher 
once told me that the talk about the importance of having 
the flies fall like thistledown upon the water was all moon- 
shine. Said he: "If you get the fly on the water at all, and 
the Trout wants it, he'll take it." 

I cannot tell among what sort of Trout my friend had 
gained this experience; but in my own I find that the more 
lightly my flies descend upon the surface of the stream, the 
more likelihood is there of a rise. 

There is no such mighty mystery in fly-fishing, more than 
in rifle-shooting; and while superior skill in either is confined 



THE BROOK TKOUT. 2 I / 

to the few, the main principles of each may be learned [not 
mastered] in a few minutes. 

In my judgment, the most important point in Trout-fish- 
ing is gained by him who has acquired the correct method of 
giving what is termed the "strike." It should be prompt, yet 
delicate — prompt because the fraction of a second of lost 
time may mean the loss of your fish, and one has to see but 
once the suddenness with which any distasteful morsel is 
ejected some inches from the mouth of the Trout, to realize 
the importance of promptitude in responding with the turn 
of the wrist to the first gleam that denotes a rise. 

, It is well to have the knack of making long casts, but they 
are seldom requisite to success, particularly in stream-fishing. 
With a short line you are more fully master of the situation, 
and the most of the Trout are taken within thirty feet. A 
long cast however, sometimes enables one to reach points 
otherwise unattainable, but in practice nobody casts a liy 
eighty or one hundred feet. That is casting, not fishing. 

When fishing for Trout, keep your eye on the stream. If 
you see a rise, mark the spot, but be not in haste to reach it. 
A master of the angle is seldom in haste. When near enough, 
cast your fly a little short of the point you have noted. 

Then, if necessary, cast a little further, and if your cast is 
well chosen and well made, the fish will probably show 
itself. 

If you are wading, you cannot be too deliberate or cautious 
in your movements, and by observing such a course, you 
may sometimes even pass through a school of Trout without 
sensibly alarming them. 

Study the insects along the stream, and make up your cast 
accordingly, if practicable. Mr. H. Cholmondeley Pennell ad- 
vocates the use of three typical flies for Trout, to the exclusion 
of all those now in use. Never having tried them, I cannot say 
as to their efficiency, though I had hoped to test them during 
the present season, but a malady of the eyes has prevented 



2l8 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

my giving them a trial. They are green, brown and yellow, 
and have certainly a most attractive look, as tied by Mr. 
Charles F. Orvis from whom I obtained some specimens. 

A good assortment of flies is desirable, especially while on 
a journey; but the fly-book of an expert is more notable for 
the selection of the flies which it contains than for their num- 
bers, and seldom will he wet more than a half-dozen in a 
day's fishing. 

It is well to take a few lessons from an accomplished fly- 
tyer, and to carry materials for extemporizing a cast which, 
though not scientifically tied, may yet prove attractive to the 
denizens of the brook. 

In casting across a stream, which, where practicable, is 
the better way, do not hurry, but draw the flies slowly toward 
you, lest the Trout be alarmed. And when the fish is hooked, 
especially if he be large, do not seek to land him hastily, 
unless compelled by the surroundings to do so, lest haply he 
break away. The most that escape are lost through undue 
haste. 

When Trout have become "educated, " and sometimes where 
they have not, the smallest flies on number 12 to 18 
hooks, with gossamer gut, will prove more attractive than 
most others, and such are extensively used upon the much 
fished streams of England, as also upon those of New York 
and others of our states which have for years been resorts 
for anglers. The gossamer gut, however, deteriorates in 
quality in a short time, and is not ordinarily requisite in the 
capture of our American Brook Trout. The drawn gut is best 
preserved by being kept wrapped in oiled paper. 

The rods now in favor are very much lighter, though more 
effective, than those formerly in use. A click reel — not a 
multiplier — and thirty yards of water-proof line (the tapered 
lines are best) will be found most effective. And it is well 
that the line should fit the rod. As truly said by Mr. Orvis: 
•'A heavy line on a very light rod would be bad; a very light 



thp: brook trout. 219 

line on a heavy rod would be worse. I find many are 
inclined to use too light a line, supposing the lighter it is, the 
less trouble there will be in casting it. This, I think, is an 
error. It is impossible to cast well against or across the wind 
with a very light line; and very light lines do not 'lay out' 
as accurately as do the heavier ones." 

I think that the lighter rods are growing in favor. Good 
work has been done with three to five ounce switches in 
waters adapted to their use, but for swift streams they seem 
to me to be unsuitable, at least for the larger fish. For 
"brushy" streams, a stiff rod is best. 

Many Trout which would otherwise be lost may be saved by 
the use of a landing-net. If the fish is lifted from the water 
by the hook, and the tackle be fine, it is liable to be broken. 

Neither a low barometer nor an electric storm are conducive 
to success in fishing. In choosing the day, as in selecting 
and proving the tackle, experience is the road to success. 
A change of weather is often the prelude to good luck in 
fishing. A thorough angler will seldom use a leader that 
has not been tested, and it is stated by an eminent authority, 
Mr. Henry P. Wells, that "a leader which will endure five 
pounds steady strain with a spring balance, will, when 
backed by the elasticity of a fair rod, resist the utmost effort 
of the largest Trout that swims the Rangeley Lakes." 

Test, therefore, the gut you use, and never bend it when 
dry, or allow it to be stepped upon at any time. 

I shall not attempt to offer many suggestions as to the 
proper flies to be used for Trout. Their name is legion, and 
each has its advocate. There are some, such as the coachmen 
and professors, that have a place in every fly-book. For the 
Rangeley, I suppose that no single fly will take as many 
Trout as the Parmacheene Belle, though as it was not invented 
when I fished those waters, I cannot say from experience. 

It is always safe to have plenty of hackles of different colors 
- — the red is a favorite with many anglers — and of small, 



220 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

plain colored flies with light wings. These will, in the New 
Hampshire streams, in those of Northern Michigan and in 
many other localities, often serve better purpose than larger 
and gaudier flies. 

Trout may be taken after dark by the use of the white 
miller and some other light colored lure. In some waters 
they will rise at gaudy flies daring the night, and it is sta- 
ted that even the black hackle has proven attractive in cer- 
tain localities. 

The scarlet Ibis, though very taking in some waters of the 
Eastern and Middle States, seems less attractive in the North 
and West. It is well to carry a few flies with more 
or less blue in their make-up. If your flies are sufficiently 
attractive, the Trout will rise to them, even in mid-winter. 
Make the best selection in your power, and be not in too 
great haste to change your cast. If after a fair trial, you 
find that the fish will not rise to the fly, fear not to use bait; 
remembering that there are few indeed of our most accom- 
plished anglers, who do not thus when other methods fail. 
The more attractive baits include minnows, minnows' tails, 
red worms, white grubs, the various larvae to be found in 
decaying wood, grasshoppers and the throat or belly fin of 
the Trout itself. Fly-fishing is not commonly successful until 
the spring is well advanced. Never think that you know a 
brook until you have fished it thoroughly, as the best Trout 
are sometimes taken in the most unlikely spots. 

One September day, more than thirty years ago, I found 
myself at old Dan Quimby's, on Rangeley Lake. Few anglers 
were at that time in the habit of visiting those waters. 

In fact, I myself was there more for the purpose of hunting 
than fishing. Large game, however, was scarce, much more 
so than at the present time, and I consequently gave the 
more attention to the Trout. 

My first essay was at the mouth of a cove, where my guide 
had a boat in readiness. On our way, he had looked care- 



THE BROOK TROUT. 22 1 

fully to the right and left, to find, as he said, "some- 
thin' fer bait. I want ter find a potridge, ef I kin, though a 
red squir'l '11 dew." 

As he spoke, a fine cock grouse rose near us and settled 
on a branch, to be the next instant beheaded by the rifle of 
my companion. 

"I'd a goo' deal ruther hev a potridge 'n a squir'l or a 
meat-hawk," he said as, cutting from the leg of the luckless 
bird a liberal portion, he proceeded to impale it upon the point 
of a number 6 Limerick. Next he drew from beneath some 
bushes a seasoned juniper pole, some seventeen feet in length, 
attached thereto a "C" size line, spat on the bait, unmoored 
the boat, and was ready for business. 

We pushed off a few yards and anchored. It was late in 
the afternoon, a southerly breeze just rippled the water, 
while the dull, gray sky, and the mournful soughing of the 
wind among the pines bore token of a coming storm. 

Aleck dropped his bait into the water, while I cast my jay- 
fly and gray hackle toward the mouth of the brook, drawing 
them slowly across the ripples, but at first without success. 

"Hello!" said Aleck, "I've got the fust one." 

His fish was a large Trout, but broke away as he attempted 
to raise it from the water; and almost at the same instant, 
three or four Trout seerped to rise at once at the jay. One 
was fast, and another seized the hackle instanter. Aleck 
dropped his pole and looked on with much interest as 
they dashed from side to side, I playing them, and they often 
playing each other; for when one sounded, the other was 
pretty sure to shoot upward. 

"Well," said the guide, after a long pause; "I never see a 
pole buckle like that 'n afore." 

This was an English rod of ash and lancewood, which I 
had bought since leaving home, in a tackle store in Boston. 
It was a very light, and for those days, a very expensive one, 
the best the vendor had. It weighed thirteen ounces, and 



222 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

cost nearly five dollars. Please remember that this was 
almost thirty years ago. That rod was well worth its price, 
and money wouldn't buy it, for I have it still. It is good 
even yet, although the butt, after many years of faithful serv- 
ice, took such a "set" that I replaced it with another; thereby 
reducing the weight of the rod some three ounces. I seldom 
use it, but the many memories which attach to this old rod 
are such as I can associate with none other in my collec- 
tion. 

The Trout were soon tired out, and duly transferred to our 
basket, where, lying on a bed of fern, tliey furnished food for 
pleasurable anticipations for the remainder of the trip. They 
weighed respectively one, and one and a quarter pounds, and 
were much the same with a score of others taken that evening 
on my rod. I am, however, obliged to confess that Aleck 
beat me, not in numbers but in weight. I had, however, 
returned to the water several half-pounders, while Aleck 
kept all his fish. His catch aggregated thirteen in number, 
one of which weighed over four pounds. 

The wind arose as we left the lake, and a drizzling rain 
set in, which with occasional intermissions continued through- 
out my stay. 

During an interval of sunshme, I rode over to the mill- 
dam, where I found a native, equipped with a small rifle and 
a "jigger." He had shot a "spruce grouse," the plumage of 
which was nearly black; and had captured a Trout weighing 
some three pounds. He looked with disfavor upon my flies, 
and said that they were well enough to play with, but 
wouldn't fetch the Trout. 

I cast my flies upon the surface of the foaming current, when 
they floated downward to the edge of a little eddy, and dis- 
appeared from view. There was a savage strike, and a great 
Trout dashed half-way across the stream and sprang into the 
air. He was fast to the jay-fly, and I at once renewed a res- 
olution I had previously formed, but neglected to carry out — 



THE BROOK TROUT. 223 

to use but one fly on my cast where the big fellows were 
known to exist. 

The largest Trout I had ever hooked was fast — fast and 
furious. I did not time the struggle, but it was long, and 
my rod was tried to its utmost capacity. When at last the 
Trout found a hiding-place behind a rock near the shore, and 
sulked at the bottom, the native, who had looked with much 
interest upon the contest, approached and offered to "jigger" 
the fish; which courtesy I curtly declined, not liking the look 
of his weapon. 

The Trout again roused himself for the fray, but he was 
wearied, and before many minutes I succeeded in bringing 
him to the net. His weight was about three pounds, and he 
was the largest fish which I took at any time upon the 
Rangeley lakes. 

I heard talk there as elsewhere, of the extraordinary size of 
the Speckled Trout there taken, but at that time no compe- 
tent guides were to be had, and I did not then know, what 
has since proved to be the fact, that those large fish are not 
surface-feeders, and it is believed that they do not rise to 
the natural fly. 

The Parmacheene Belle, which is one of the most taking 
flies for that region, was, I understand, suggested by the 
appearance of the belly-fin of a Trout — a bait much in use 
with many fishers. The Grizzly king, Montreal, Silver Doc- 
tor, and other gaudy flies, are taking at different times. 
Large hackles, gray and brown, are often attractive, but in 
my own experience, the jay-fly has proved the best. When 
a fly is taken by the larger of these Trout, it is always when 
below the surface of the water. Cast a straight line, let the 
fly sink a foot or two, then draw it toward you with short 
pauses, finally retrieving quietly to make another cast. 

When the ice goes out of the Rangeleys, the Trout are not 
commonly taken until the temperature of the water and that 
of the morning air are nearly the same. In hot weather. 



224 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the fishing is at the mouths of streams and in swift water. 
Trolhng is common, earher, with a six-inch chub — a deadly, 
though objectionable method. The employment of more 
than one hook is prohibited by law. As the water grows 
warmer in June, the Trout seek the shallower points near 
shore, there feeding upon the various insects. Good sport 
may then be had, but in the heats of summer they again 
resort to the cooler depths of the lakes, and not until Septem- 
ber do they again take to the pools. 

The known points where the best fishing occurs are uncer- 
tain and variable, and the stranger must trust to his guide 
for these, as for other elements of success. Attempt to 
guide him and he will serve you well, but let him see that 
you acknowledge his superiority in his calling, and you will 
have your reward. He will tell you to be on hand early, for 
the first rays of the sun are often death to your success. 

It is my belief that the Trout caught in those waters run as 
large, and probably larger, than those of years ago, and at 
present, nearly one-eighth of the catch is land-locked Sal- 
mon, which have been planted in the lake, and the sport is the 
greater for the very uncertainty whether the next fish to rise 
will be Trout or Salmon. 

My fishing on the Rangeleys was prosecuted under serious 
discouragements, from the continual storms, and I soon left 
the lakes for that season. 

The next September found me in Piscataquis County, on 
my way to the Moosehead region, but chancing to meet a 
young fellow whose knowledge of the country and its sports 
seemed nearly exhaustive, I changed my plans, and we hunted 
and fished together that fall. He was something of a charac- 
ter, being the son of a wealthy man, of literary tastes, who 
had brought his library into these forests years before; but 
losing his property through investments in unprofitable lands, 
had died, and of his fortune, little but the library was left. 
The son had read it all, and his tenacious memory was 



THE BROOK TROUT. 22 5 

stored with the oddest Hterary jumble I had ever known. 
He was continually breaking out in quotations, mostly from 
the poets; so that he was commonly known as "Old Poetry." 

Old Poetry and I started out one fine morning for the 
woods. He had told me of a stream flowing from a spring 
high up on the mountain side, which he had crossed in 
winter, when in pursuit of a moose, and pointed out far to 
the northward, the gleam of the cataract, almost hidden in a 
dense spruce forest. 

"I always thought," said he, "that I'd go there again, and 
catch some fur. There's some little ponds there, and Trout 
till you can't rest, and where you find Trout a-plenty, there's 
always mink, sure. But it's a mighty hard road, and I never 
got to trap there yet." 

This spot was our objective point, and heavily laden as 
we were, with provisions, et cetera, we made but slow prog- 
ress. Indeed, had I known beforehand of the nature of the 
country we must traverse, I should hardly have undertaken 
the trip. 

Pausing at a brook. Poetry detached from his belt a silver 
cup, and gave me to drink. The elegant form and chasing of 
the vessel attracted my attention, and he told me that it was a 
parting gift from a New York gentleman with whom he had 
often hunted in the past. "And ah," said he looking fondly 
at the battered treasure, 

"My eyes grow moist and dim, to think of all the vanished joys that danced 
around its brim." 

'Twere long to tell of the weary two days tramp which 
brought us at length to the verge of a rocky cliff, where we 
threw off our packs and looked down into a clear pool of 
water, many feet below, and some fifty yards in length, 
which filled the rocky chasm, and fairly swarmed with Trout. 

Verily, it was well worth the weary journey we had made, 
l)ut to see the schools of fish. The afternoon sun lighted 
15 



226 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Up the rift, and the brilHant colors of the fishes shone out 
in full display, as back and forth beneath our stance they 
flashed and glided past. I had not then, nor have I since, 
seen such a magnificent fish preserve, albeit scarce noted by 
eye of angler till we reached the spot. 

Taking his axe. Old Poetry proceeded to build a camp, 
while I made up a cast of hackles, gray, brown and red, and 
sent them downward from the rocky shelf on which I sat. 
They were instantaneously seized by as many Trout, and I 
found that the fish were larger than I had thought. To land 
them was the difficulty, and this was at last accomplished with 
the loss of one, but the school had departed. 

They were not of large size — few being over a pound in 
weight, but their numbers seemed endless. 

I went to the head of the pool where a fall of three or four 
feet poured in, and taking ofi two of my flies, secured a Trout 
at nearly every cast, until a halt was called, my assistance 
being required in arranging the roof of our bark camp. I 
hung my string of Trout upon a stub, some five or six feet 
from the ground and obeyed the summons. Returning in a 
quarter of an hour, I found to my surprise that the most of 
my fish had disappeared, while those remaining were all more 
or less mutilated. Calling the hunter in my turn, his practiced 
eye took in the situation at a glance.- 

"The spoiler hath been here," he said, and "it's a cussed 
mink. I'll set a 'kilheeg' (log trap) for him after supper." 

This was done, and thoroughly wearied with our long tramp 
we lay down on our beds of fir boughs before the fire, and 
soon slept the sleep of the weary. 

At daybreak Poetry was up, and inspecting his trap, in 
which he found a half-grown mink. " 'Twasn't you, you little 
cuss," he said, "'twas your mother, and I'll have her 'fore 
night;" and sure enough he did. 

It was still too early in the season to find the furs in prime 
condition, and the hunter passed the most of his time in 



THE BROOK TROUT. 



;2 7 



making- a thorough exploration of the surrounding country, 
with a view to future operations. We remained three days 
at this dehghtful spot, and but for the Trout, our provisions 
would have been exhausted before the end of our stay. It 
is interesting to note that while at first the Trout would take 
readily any fly in my book; before we had left, they had be- 
come notably suspicious, and on the morning of our depart- 
ure, would rise to nothing but black and brown hackles. 

The Rangeleys have perhaps held their own as well or 
better than any other of our waters long famous for 
Trout. Of the many lakes or streams of the forests of North- 
ern New York, there are few, indeed, which now yield to the 
angler the same returns as in former years. This is also true 
of Pennsylvanian waters. The most of the streams of New 
England, where unpolluted by the refuse from factories, are 
favorable to the breeding of Trout, and there is still oppor- 
tunity to make fair creels in many of them, as for example 
in New Hampshire, the tributaries of the Pemigewasset all 
furnish Trout, though seldom of large size. 

East of the Mississippi no better Trout-fishing can be found 
than in the streams emptying into the northern portion of Lake 
Michigan and in the tributaries of Lake Superior, among 
which the Nepigon,for the size of its Trout, justly claims the 
precedence. To fish that stream, however, it is necessary to 
obtain the permission of the Government authorities. For 
the rest, the experienced angler has learned not to expect 
too much, whatever the name or reputation of the w^aters he 
may fish, and should he return only fairly successful, from 
an angling tour in the vicinity of Lake George, the Saranacs, 
or others, long favorites of the tourist, the beauties of the 
scenery everywhere presented to his gaze, will, if he be a 
genuine lover of nature, go far to compensate him for his 
lack of sport. If it is but the Trout he seeks, this paper was 
not penned for him. 

On a fine August day, some years ago, a party of three, 



228 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

consisting of two young collegians and myself, started from 
a small saw-mill, situated on a large brook which rippled and 
gashed down a mountain side in one of the forests of New 
Hampshire. We were in quest of a lake from which flowed 
the stream above mentioned, having been told that there 
the Speckled Trout did much abound. Our informant, how- 
ever, a young farmer of the neighborhood, cared but little 
apparently for the Trout, but was extreme in his laudation 
of the size and quality of the "Bull-pouts" which likewise 
inhabited Pennyroyal Pond, for so this lake was named. 
The miller had shown us one end of a trail which he said 
would lead to the pond by a more direct route than we could 
have by tracing the course of the stream. We however 
learned to our sorrow that several logging roads and other 
trails branched from or intersected the one we desired to fol- 
low, so that we missed the proper course and were at last 
only enabled to find the object of our search by climbing a 
tree, and, by compass, taking the bearings of a granite peak 
at the foot of which I knew the lake to be situated. At last, 
near sunset, we reached the shore, and seating ourselves 
upon the most comfortable log we could find, gazed out upon 
this little mountain tarn. 

It was situated in a bowl-shaped depression among the hills, 
and a dark spruce forest rose from shore to summit in smooth 
and regular sweep. To our right was the gray granite peak 
which had been our guide, reflected from the clear waters of 
the lake, which here and there were dimpled by rising fish or 
the trail of the summer duck. It was a beautiful scene, and 
my companions, who had stood the tramp pretty well, were 
enthusiastic in its praise. Never before had they been so 
completely isolated from civilization, and to them nearly 
everything we saw was a novelty. Having rested, two of us 
set to work to prepare a camp, while the other, after joint- 
ing his rod, walked down to the lake in order to catch some 
Trout for supper. 



THE BROOK TROUT. 229 

By the time we had roofed the camp and had the fire well 
under way. the angler returned. "Look here," said he. "I 
thought you said those were Trout out there rising in the 
lake." 

"So I did," said I. 

"Well, they are nothing but Bull-pouts." 

I am afraid that I did not succeed in repressing the smile 
which rose to my lips as I replied: "Bull-pouts don't rise 
in that way. How many did you catch. -'" 

"Seven." 

"Did you keep them.^" 

"No. I thought we were going to have Trout for supper. 
Think you, we left the classic hills of Harvard to initiate our 
first camp amid these granite solitudes by a banquet on Bull- 
pouts. -* Perish the thought!" 

"Perhaps it would have been safer to keep theBull-pouts, as 
we are all rather hungry, but we will see what can be done." 

Preparing my tackle I walked along the shore near the foot 
of the granite cliff where the water was deep, and a tree had 
fallen into the lake. Standing alongside a large bowlder I cast 
my hackles toward the tree-top, and the first cast fastened 
an eight-inch Trout. I continued my fishing for half an hour, 
by which time enough had been secured for present needs, 
and we returned to the camp-fire. 

During our meal, Rob, who had watched my fishing with 
interest, inquired the reason why he had only caught Bull- 
pouts, instead of Trout as he had expected; to which I replied 
that he had selected for his fishing a little muddy cove which 
was the natural home of theBull-pouL, and added that fishing 
as he did with bait, he would do better to seek for Trout 
among the ledges. My advice was followed, and before 
night closed in, we had taken several more Trout — the two 
young fellows with bait, and I with white miller. We walled 
in with loose stones a little pool in which to keep our fish 
alive, and at last, thoroughly wearied with the toils of the 



230 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

day, we replenished the fire, for the nights were chilly in 
those mountains, turned in and slept soundly. 

At dawn we ware astir, our breakfast was soon dispatched, 
and rods in hand, we sallied forth in quest of new achieve- 
ments. The weather was wild, windy, and unfavorable for 
fly-fishing, and when at noon we assembled for dinner, it 
was found that the catch of the bait rods had the advantage 
in both numbers and weight, whereat my friends rejoiced. 
And while dinner was in progress I noted occasional innuen- 
dos concerning the inferiority of flies as compared with bait. 
None of the Trout thus far taken, were more than a pound 
in weight, but my friends were very desirous that some of the 
big fellows of which they had heard might fall victims to their 
skill. I remarked that we had already corraled five times as 
many Trout as we could use, and that most anglers would be 
well satisfied with such a catch, whether size or numbers were 
considered. But the big Trout still formed the burden of their 
conversation. 

After an hour's rest we walked along the shore in the 
direction of an old catamaran or raft formed of two logs 
about twenty feet long, which had been placed side by side, 
and rudely connected by cross-bars and withes. Some dis- 
cussion was held about the propriety of putting out into the 
lake upon this raft, but the gusts which swept the surface 
seemed to render such a voyage inexpedient. During the 
conversation I had advanced to the end of the catarriaran 
which lay off shore, and was casting my fly toward the cen- 
ter of the lake, while Joe, with an improvised handspike in- 
serted beneath the raft, essayed to move it from its resting 
place. Much to his surprise the crazy fastenings of the logs 
gave way, and the outermost one on which I was standing, 
intent upon my cast, aided by an inopportune puff of wind, 
swung outward and away from shore. I did not realize my 
situation until a warning shout caused me to turn my head — 
too late. 



THE BROOK TROUT. 



231 



"Holy Moses!" shouted Joe. "What'll we do now.'" 
The log began to roll, and in order to maintain my upright 
position, I was obliged to seat myself astride upon it with my 
legs in the water. And thus I slowly drifted out into the lake. 
The consternation of my friends for my mishap soon gave way 
to mirth, as they saw me comparatively master of the situation, 
and those irreverent youngsters opened a fire of remarks 
more or less nautical and tantalizing in their character. 

"Ship ahoy." "Where are you bound.-'" "Hard a-lee." 



r 


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-.-ifji^^SMIm 




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^U^^M^^mj^l^Sr^^^* 


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^^B 




D^jJ^^^^^H 


ImH^H 


HIK 




' ■ - -^tir >- - '^I^^^^^^^H 


^^^^HH 



"Hard down your helm." "Give her the sheet and let 'er 
howl," etc. 

I made no response, but continued casting to the right and 
left, as I drifted onward. The talk of large Trout had induced 
me after dinner to change the red hackle I had used as a 
stretcher fly for a large blue-jay. I had no expectation of a 
rise so far from shore, but to my surprise, when almost in the 
middle of the lake, the jay was taken and by a very large 
Trout. It was a battle royal which followed, but by the 



232 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



time the log had drifted ashore the fish was conquered, and 
when at last we grounded, and disembarking from my uncom- 
fortable craft I waded to dry land, I led the fish into a shal- 
low pool of water where he was safe. I was soon rejoined 
by my companions who had hurried around to meet me, 
meanwhile watching the contest with much interest. 

"Ah," said Joe, as, panting and breathless he gazed upon 
the magnificent fish, "Isn't that a Jimid credof'' 

The fish weighed upward of three pounds, and was by far 
the largest taken during our stay. For still another day we 
whipped the waters of the little lake, and before our depart- 
ure on the following morning, we opened our corrals, and 
gave liberty to nearly two hundred of our bright-hued cap- 
tives. Our tramp homeward was without incident, and we 
parted next day at the railway station. Since that trip we 
never meet without some allusion to the big Trout of Penny- 
royal Pond. 




TROUTING ON THE NEPIGON. 

BY W. H. H. MURRAY. 

HELLO!" I exclaimed, as I glanced at the time-table, 
which, in the form of an illustrated itinerary, lay on 
the table. "We must be nearing the Nepigon." 

"The Nepigon!" exclaimed the judge, with the ardor of a 
sportsman. "More monstrous Trout have been caught in 
the Nepigon than in any other river on the continent. I have 
friends who firmly believe that it is one of the four sacred 
rivers that flow out of paradise." 

"I think I would agree with them," I laughingly returned, 
"if they would make their paradise include not only the 
river, but the lake in which it heads. For if Lake Nepigon 
was not in paradise it was a great loss for paradise." And 
as I spoke, the train struck the bridge which stretches 
across the noble and noted river, and as it was gliding 
smoothly on it slowed, and suddenly stopped. 

"Oh, oh, oh!" 

"See, Tom, look!" 

"Jones, where are you.?" 

"Fo' de Lawd, Mars' Judge," exclaimed the waiter, "you 
two gemmen git to de hind end ob de kyar, ef you wants ter 
see what's gwine on down dar in dat ribber. " 

The excitement was contagious, for the car was full of 
shouts, cheers, and exclamations. The judge rushed down 
the aisle to the rear of the car. 

"Great heavens!" he exclaimed, as he reached the plat- 
form. "Look at that!" 

2Z2> 



234 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

A hundred feet below us flowed the noble current, a deep, 
wide, strong-moving mass of water. Here and there an eddy 
marked it with its huge circumference. But in the main it 
moved downward toward the great lake, shining in full 
view, as a river flows between widened banks and with plenty 
of room. In the middle of the river, nearly under us, was a 
canoe with an Indian at either end, and a man in a velveteen 
jacket standing in the center. In his hands ^^as a rod, and 
the tip of the rod was doubled backward nigh to the reel, the 
ringing whir of which filled the air. His pose was that of 
an angler who had struck a fish — a big fish — a fish that is 
fighting him gamily and stubbornly, and which he is resist- 
ing with the cool, determined skill of a veteran of the rod. 

"What a picture," exclaimed the judge "Gad! whai a pict- 
ure." 

Well might he exclaim, "What a picture!" The wide 
river; the island-studded lake, into which it emptied; the 
lofty banks; the great dome of blue sky above; high over the 
stream, as if hung in mid-air, the long train, every window 
filled with heads, every platform crowded with forms, the 
engineer, an angler himself, hanging out of the cab, swinging 
his hat; below, the canoe, the ochred Indians, the bent body 
of the angler, the swaying, quivering, doubled-up rod — 
what a picture. 

Suddenly, we, who were looking, saw the rod straighten. 
Some of us knew what it meant. The judge clinched my 
arm, and in an instant out of the water came the Trout, 
mouth open, fins extended, tail spread. 

"Jerusalem!" screamed the judge. "He's a twenty-poun- 
der!" 

Dear old judge, thou hast the true angler's eye — that eye 
which enlarges and multiplies by a happy trick of vision, not 
merely the size of the fish, but the enjoyment of the soul. 
Ay, ay, it was a twenty-pounder to both of us old sports for 
the instant, and if the envious scales did shrink the noble 



troutinct on the nepigon. 235 

form to shorter and thinner proportions, it could not rob us 
of the ecstasy of our first estimate, thank heavens! 

And the fight that followed — what words may set it forth? 
O anglers, shut your eyes, and see and hear it from behind 
your closed lids. Call memory to your aid — the memory of 
the sternest fight you ever fought, of the swiftest torrent, of 
the wildest pool, of that favorite rod smashed to splinters, of 
paddle broken, of the "biggest fish that ever swam," lost or 
won. Stop, I say, and from behind closed lids see all this, 
and you will see what we saw under the great bridge over 
the Nepigon on that bright June day. 

Whoever the man in the velveteen jacket might be, he was 
of the right sort — an angler of whom anglers need never be 
ashamed; for as he fought that fish he gave us such an exhi- 
bition of angler's fence as ranked him one of the best that 
ever fingered reel. An eight-ounce rod against an eight- 
pound fish, a strong, deep current, and a Nepigon canoe. 
Grant anglers such conditions, and how many shall make a 
winning fight .-* 

Twice the huge fish broke water, and twice the long train 
cheered him to the echo. The judge was wild. Each time 
the fish broke the surface, he fairly jumped! He leaned far 
over the rail. He swung his hat, and when the monstrous 
Trout broke the surface the second time, he yelled: 

"Save him, save him, and I'll nominate you for the Presi- 
dency." 

Once the great fish for an instant burst through his oppo- 
nent's guard. Once, I must confess, my heart sank within me, 
as a stone sinks to the bottom of a well. When he was a 
hundred feet from the canoe, the rod nearly tip and butt, 
and the silk line stretched through the air like a wire, the 
fish doubled and lanced backward like a flash. We saw his 
wake — that sharpened wedge of water which anglers dread 
— and as he went under the canoe, and, in the stillness, that 
had come to us, we heard the line rattle on the bark, a groan 



2T,6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

escaped the judge. He rolled his eyes upward, and roared 
as if stricken with pain: "Great Scott! he's lost him!" 

But the fish was not lost. The angler recovered his advan- 
tage, and fought the fight to the end, skillfully and coolly. 

The fish was deftly gaffed by one of the Indians, and 
quickly lay on the bottom of the canoe. The Indians seized 
their paddles, and the light craft glanced toward the western 
bank, the man unjomting his rod as the boat shot along, and 
in a moment they came panting up the embankment with 
a huge hamper in their hands, in which, amid flowers and 
grasses, lay six other Trout, nearly as large as the one we had 
seen captured. 

Seldom is such a reception granted to a mortal as was 
given to the man in the velveteen jacket. The engineer 
cheered and swung his hat; the fireman, sooted and begrimed, 
capered and danced on the coal-box like an electrified imp; 
the passengers yelled; the ladies fluttered their handkerchiefs; 
while we anglers of the party fairly took him in our arms and 
lifted him onto the platform, where the judge enfolded him 
in an embrace which the stranger will never forget — a hug 
such as an old angler gives a younger one to whom he is in- 
debted for an exhibition of skill which has brought back to 
his memory all his own former victories, and proved to his 
anxious soul that the gentle art is not being neglected. 

Never fear, never fear, dear old judge, that the art of all 
arts will be lost, or the skill of trained finger and eye be for- 
gotten. We shall pass; but still the streams will flow on, the 
pools will go round, and the Trout love the coolness of 
springs and the rush of swift waters. The boys will grow up 
like their sires, loving water and sun, loving forest and rap- 
ids. With brown faces and hands, and with eyes keen as 
ours, they will stand where we stood, they will boat where 
we boated, they will camp where we camped, and the 
dead ashes of fires that we kindled they will kindle to 
new life again. The gentle art will live on, while nature is 
nature and mankind is man. 



THE LAKE TROUT. 

BY LUTHER PARDEE. 

THE Lake Trout, or Sali'c/nnis 7iaviaycusJi as he is more 
accurately described in the language of the scientist, is, 
according to Professor Goode, of the Smithsonian Insti- 
tute, "a non-migratory species, inhabiting the chain of Great 
Lakes, from Superior to Ontario, as well as Lake Champlain, 
and many other smaller lakes of the United States and Brit- 
ish America. * * * The usual type to be found in the Great 
Lakes is brown or gray, dappled with lighter shades of the 
same general tints. - * * Every lake of Northern New 
York and New England has its own variety, which the local 
ano-ler stoutly maintains to be a different species from that 
found in the next township. Some are as black as a tautog, 
some brown with crimson spots, some gray, with delicate 
reticulations like those of a Pickerel. The usual type is brown 
or gray, dappled with lighter shades of the same general tints. 
Naturalists have been sadly mistaken by their protean modi- 
fications. The 'Namayciish,' of the North, the 'togue' or 
'tuladi' of Maine and New Brunswick, * * -^ the Trout of 
Winnipiseogee and that of the Adirondack lakes, have each 
been honored with a distinct binominal. The angling authori- 
ties still refuse to admit that the Lake Trout of the east is 
identical with the Mackinaw Trout or NauiaycusJi, supporting 
their views by accounts of their different habits. A careful 
study of the dead fish is sufficient, however, to convince a 
trained observer that there are no structural characters by 
which these different forms may be separated into species. 

237 



238 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

"The NauiayciLsh reaches its greatest perfection in the 
northern parts of Lakes Huron and Michigan, and in Lake 
Superior, where it is quite generally known as the Mackinaw 
Trout. In New York lakes the same species occurs, being 
known by the names of Lake Salmon, Lake Trout, and Sal- 
mon Trout." This by no means, however, exhausts the list 
of names with which he is enriched, for in Canada and 
Maine he is known as "tuladi," "longe" or "lunge," in Vermont 
as "togue," and he will respond, if you call him Red Trout, 
Gray Trout, Forked-tail Trout, Great-lake Trout, or Lesser- 
lake Trout. 

The scientific description of this fish is given as follows, by 
Professor David Starr Jordan, of the Indiana State Univer- 
sity: 

'"'' Salvclinus naviayciisJi''' — (^^^albaum) — Goode — Macki- 
naw Trout, or Great-lake Trout, also locally known as 
"longe," "togue," "Salmon Trout," etc. (the latter name to 
be discouraged, as it is applied in England and elsewhere to 
very different species, as Saluio fario, etc. ) 

"(A). Characters shared with other Chars, but not with 
the species Salmo: 

"Vomer boat-shaped, the shaft much depressed; no teeth 
inserted on the shaft; scales very small, and somewhat im- 
bedded, about 200, in a longitudinal series; fins moderate, 
the anal rather short, 9 to 1 1 developed rays; the caudal forked 
in the young, becoming nearly truncate with age. Branch- 
iostegals, 11 or 12; gill rakers, 16 to 20; pyloric caeca rather 
few and large. Sexual peculiarities not strongly marked; 
the breeding males with the premaxillaries lengthened, and 
with a fleshy projection at the tip of the lower jaw. Color- 
ation dark, without black spots; sides with round spots of red- 
dish or grayish; the head, back, dorsal and caudal fins usually 
marked with wavy lines. 

"(B). Characters distinguishing S. Naiiiaycush from other 
Chars: 



THE LAKE TROUT. 



239 



"Vomer with a raised crest, armed with strong teeth extend- 
ing backward from the chevron, but free from the shaft; a 
band of strong teeth on hyoid bone (base of tongue). Head 
very long, somewhat flattened above, its length averaging 
nearly one-fourth the total (exclusive of caudal); body rather 
slender (varying much with food, etc.), its greatest depth 
averaging little more than length of head. Space between 
eyes about one-fourth length of head. Mouth very large, 
the length of its cleft averaging about half of head, the 
maxillary extending much beyond eye. Teeth very strong. 
Adipose fin small. Caudal fin always more or less concave 
or forked. 

"General color dark gray — more or less olive-tinged in 
life, the color varying with circumstances from very pale to 
almost black. Upper parts, especially top of head, with ver- 
miculations of darker olive or gray. Dorsal and anal fins 
reticulate. Sides with round pale spots, usually light gray or 
somewhat yellowish, said to be sometimes tinged with reddish. 
Lower fins less ornate than in the brook Trout; usually nearly 
plain." 

The Lake Trout is essentially a deep-water fish, and as soon 
as the temperature of the water changes in the sprin"-, he 
leaves the surface where he has been for a short time, and 
seeks the more congenial "deep sea." It is doubtless 
largely owing to this fact that so little is known of him as a 
game fish, since, in order to catch him in the deep waters 
whefre he is usually found, such a clumsy form of tackle has 
ordinarily to be used as almost deprives the process of any 
pleasure or sport. Yet, while it is eminently true that he 
lacks the verve and dash of the Trout or the Bass, he has 
a manifest and dogged determination all his own, that marks 
him as being very different from the sluggish Pickerel. 

In our western cities, especially those bordering on the 
Great Lakes, his form is very well known, being seen in every 
tish-stall. and being highly esteemed for its toothsome quali- 



24C 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



ties; but the method of his advent there is one that concerns 
us not, connected as it is with the vulgar and mercantile gill 
and pound nets. Our acquaintance with him is to be rather 
that which rises from first having ceremoniously "dropped 
him a line," and receiving his reply in forma propria, before 
we proceed to seek his more intimate acquaintance. But let 
me tell you, brother angler, an' you know it not already, 
that if you will have true sport with him, and win his pro- 
found gratitude for being so handsomely "taken in," you will 
always see to it that your tackle shall be as light and delicate 
as the spider's gossamer, and that the barbarous "trolling- 
line" — the hand-line of commerce — shall have no place in 
your well chosen stores. Listen to what "Timon Tyde," who, 
as is well known, "wait(s) for no man," says of the practice: 

"Did it ever strike you that trolling with a hand-line wasn't 
real sport.^ It is a good deal like towing on a canal, with a 
strong team of mules and a heavy line; the boat hain't got 
no chance. Neither has a fish, with two hands going one 
over the other, taking in string like a revolving drum. I used 
to do it, but I got ashamed of it. You don't get the sport out 
of a fish on a hand-line that you do with a light rod. A man 
doesn't get the credit for being a great fisherman because he 
brings home a boat-load of fish. Ask the boatman who pulls 
him around for his opinion of his man. It's either, *he's a 
daisy,' or, 'he wanted all the fish in the lake.'" 

Be generous with your opponent! let it be give and take; 
give him at least an equal chance with you; let him test to 
the full the spring of your slender rod, the strength of your 
delicate line, and the glittering vanity of the whirling spoon; 
and then, when you come forth proudly victor, as in sooth 
you will, if you are a true disciple of the gentle craft, there 
will be no tinge of regret in your rejoicings, nor suspicion of 
sordid motive attaching to your doughty deeds. And then, 
too, you will know, as then only you can know, how much 
of genuine sport there is in angling for this hardy prince of 



THE LAKE TROUT. 



241 




242 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the hidden realms of Neptune. But I am not yet through 
with the prosaic part of my tale, and must fain detain you 
longer, oh patient follower of these lines, while I sketch for 
you, C7irr elite c alamo, some facts 'tis well to know, before we 
go a-fishing. And first, to quote from kindly Seth Green, of 
fragrant memory: 

"There are no fish which require a more uniform temperature 
of weather, and when they cannot have access in the warm 
summer months to the deep water — where the temperature is 
the same the year around, where it is not affected by any 
of the changes of the atmosphere in either winter or summer, 
death will ensue from suffocation. 

"Many times in fishing for Salmon Trout in summer, when 
I have hooked a Trout in the deep water, he would come for 
a distance without much struggling, but as he neared the sur- 
face where the temperature began to affect him, he began to 
suffocate, and his struggling greatly increased." 

Cheney says: "The Lake Trout inhabits only lakes con- 
taining deep, cold, clear water, and they are the first of all 
the Salmons to succumb in waters of high temperature. Seth 
Green made an experiment to determine this question, using 
California and Kennebec Salmon, California Trout, Gray- 
ling, Brook Trout, and Lake Trout. The Lake Trout died 
first, and before the mercury reached seventy-four degrees; 
the Brook Trout next, and then death ensued in the follow- 
ing order: the Grayling, the California Trout, the Kennebec 
Salmon, and, last, the California Salmon." 

This characteristic of the Lake Trout will account for the 
fact that in all save the Great Lakes, fishing for him is either 
confined to a limited time in spring and fall, when the sur- 
face water is very cold, or else the tackle that is used must be 
such as will take him at a depth of from forty to eighty feet, 
whereby the element of sport is largely eliminated from the 
act of fishing. 

The time of spawning of the Lake Trout is in the middle 



THE LAKE TROUT. 243 

fall, when they leave the deep recesses of the lakes, to seek 
the shoals for this purpose. The proportion of spawn 
deposited is said to be about 2,000 ova for every pound in 
weight of the female. The same uncertain chance attends 
the hatching of the eggs as is seen in the cases of so many 
other fish. If they escape the eyes of other spawners, 
it is only to fall a prey in large numbers to the hungry and 
greedy prowlers that are always on the lookout for just such 
delicious bonnes benches. Once past this fateful time, how- 
ever, the Namaycnsh grows lusty and strong, and increases so 
mightily in size and weight as almost surpasses belief, although 
his average weight is only about six pounds. In the Great 
Lakes, the captains and mates of the schooners that trade from 
port to port give startling records of catches made from the 
decks of their vessels, and prove them by the fish. Thus Mr, 
Cheney reports that in 1882 his brother saw on the deck of a 
schooner at Muskegon, Michigan, nine Lake Trout, the small- 
est of which weighed eighteen pounds. (I thank thee, O 
Cheney, for leaving to the glorious uncertainty of conjecture 
the weights of the other eight!) The same writer is authority 
for the statement that Dr. E. Sterling of Cleveland, Ohio, 
saw a Lake Trout taken at Thunder Bay, Lake Huron, that 
weighed seventy pounds. My own companion of the yachting 
trip, described later in this paper, "the captain," on one of his 
trips caught a monster, horresco referens, so great as to defy 
description! I can only report that he encased him tenderly 
in icy bands of swathing, and sent him to the steward of his 
club here in Chicago, with a preceding note of explanation that 
he sent him "a fish" for the club; whereat the lordly steward 
tossed high his head, and curled his patrician nose in scorn at 
thought of "a fish" supplying even for a single day the gas- 
tronomic wants of his many guests. Yet tradition has it 
that there was enough and to spare, so that perchance even 
the minions had taste of this wondrous fish. The record of 
the smaller lakes also shows numerous well authenticated 



244 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

cases of fish caught that weighed from twenty-five to forty 
pounds. 

The food of our Mackinaw friend is varied. He is not 
over-scrupulous, yet he has a leaning to nice, juicy, tender 
young White-fish, while not despising the grosser pabiilmn 
that frisks from time to time invitingly before him. He 
is withal a good hearty eater, which is much to his credit, 
and in our favor. It is not uncommon for a Trout to swal- 
low a fish nearly as large as himself. 

As regards the gamencss of our subject, much has been said 
on both sides. He has been persistently vilified by some, 
and as earnestly championed by others. I am glad to see 
that Mr. A. N. Cheney, than whom I know of no more 
practical expert, in all matters pertaining to this fish, classes 
him as distinctly a game fish. I cannot do better than to 
quote his own words: 

"There is not such a vast difference between the play on 
the hook of the Lake Trout and the Speckled Trout. The 
latter at the time of taking a fly will jump above the surface 
of the water, which the former will not do in taking a bait, 
or subsequently, and the Speckled Trout swims near the 
surface when hooked, while the Lake Trout bores downward, 
but there is not sufficient difference in their tactics when 
hooked to cause the Fontinalis to stand with the elect, and 
the Nmnaycush to herd with the goats. 

"Lake Trout fishing is becoming more and more each year 
a favorite mode of angling, particularly for the invalid, the 
indolent, and those whose heads are whitened with the frost 
of many winters. The latter, seated in an arm-chair in the 
stern of a broad, safe boat, can be rowed over the trolling 
ground and all fatigue avoided, except that bravely encoun- 
tered by the boatman for three dollars per day. Often the 
tug of a 'laker,' (out of courtesy we call it a 'strike') arouses 
the veteran in his easy-chair from a dream of wading moun- 
tain brooks — before his joints became so stiffened, and his 



THE LAKE TROUT. 245 

steps SO feeble — and castin<^ his fly for a smaller and more 
beautiful fish. Good anglers may dread a worse fate than 
becoming- confirmed 'boat fishermen' for Lake Trout." 

Personally, I must say that I had a leetle rather fish for Bass 
or Trout, but I would respond just as readily to a well-backed 
invitation to go again to "Kitchi-gummi" after lakers, as I 
would to one that took me among the black flies 'and "no- 
see-'ems," and mosquitoes, and underbrush, that are the well- 
nigh inseparable attendants of the Speckled-sides and Bronze- 
backers. Namaycnsh is a good, sturdy, persistent fighter. 
What if he does lack the vim and abandon of the others.^ 
What if, instead of going off in a hundred unexpected, 
bewildering dashes, he fights it out on one line, however long 
or short the summer. It is a question of degrees and kind of 
gameness only. Let the Tarpon fisher assert that there is but 
one game-fish in the world and that — his fish! We refuse 
to believe him; nor will we allow those who have not 
tasted the steadfast joys of Lake Trout fishing to underrate 
those qualities that make him dear to us. 

The methods of taking the Lake Trout differ so materially, 
and are so much more varied in the smaller lakes, that for 
the purpose of this paper it will be necessary to give them 
somewhat in detail. Here, also, I am indebted very largely 
to the freely granted courtesy of Mr. A. N. Cheney, and to 
the results of Seth Green's labors. The latter used for deep- 
water trolling, which is decidedly the most sportsmanlike 
method, a gang of hooks, which he describes as follows: 




SETH GREEN S GANG. 



"There are several methods of trolling for Salmon Trout, 
both with trolling-spoon and gang. Nearly all trollers of 



246 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

experience have their own peculiar ways of arranging their 
tackle, and handling, and while they all differ more or less 
in minor details, they are practically the same. I will 
describe the tackle with which I have met with the best suc- 
cess. 

"The angler may use a hand-line or a rod, but the latter 
is the better, because its spring helps in playing the fish 
when struck. The rod line used is a hawser-laid Striped Bass 
linen line, size No. 9. These lines usually come in 600-feet 
lengths, but it is rare that more than 300 feet are used or 
required. Before using a new line, the stretch should be 
taken out of it as much as possible, else it is very difficult to 
strike a fish. In fishing, the line should be paid out slowly 
in order to prevent fouling, which the position of the sinker 
might otherwise cause. The leader, nine feet in length, is 
of single gut, one size finer than salmon gut. It is tied in 
two sections, with a swivel three feet from the lower end, 
and with another swivel on the gang of hooks. A six-ounce 
sinker is tied on the end of the line, and the leader is fastened 
to the line four feet above the sinker. It is also advisable to 
place another swivel on the end of the leader, to be attached 
to the line, and this swivel should play on a round glass bead, 
which is kept in place by a knot on the under side. The 
object of the bead is, in case the sinker should strike a hill, 
and roll, it will do so without tangling the leader. 

"The hooks are flatted O'Shaughnessy's No. 8. These are 
the only hooks that I have found which will stand the strain. 
There are two sets of three each, and a single lip hook in a 
gang; and they are tied on, back to back, in the shape of a 
grapnel. For a minnow five inches long, the middle set of 
hooks is placed three inches from the upper hook, while the 
former in turn is two inches from the lower set. If the min- 
now is longer or shorter, the gang must be correspondingly 
proportioned, care being taken always to place the hooks in 
the same relative distances as above noted. The middle set 



THE LAKE TROUT. 247 

is placed below the center of the gang, because Salmon Trout 
strike the bait well toward the tail. If, therefore, the min- 
now is not hooked below the middle, the Trout is quite likely 
to get away with the lower end of the bait. Before the min- 
now is placed on the hook, it is stunned by pinching its head. 
The upper or lip hook is then run through both jaws, fasten- 
ing them together, while one of the lower hooks is inserted 
near the tail, and one of the middle set in the side. The 
minnow should have a slight curve when on the hooks, which 
will give it a rotary motion resembling a crippled minnow. 
It should not be curved so as to revolve rapidly. In fishing 
the lines should go down at an angle of about forty-five 
degrees. As the tackle described is fine, a fish must be 
played cautiously until its strength is exhausted. So long as 
the line is kept taut, the Trout is not likely to escape. In 
trolling in July, August and September, fish in from fifty to 
eighty feet of water, and keep the bait within a foot of the 
bottom. The angler can make sure of this, only by allowing 
the sinker to touch the bottom occasionally. In the months 
above named, the Trout bite very early in the morning, and 
in the evening. During May and June Salmon Trout are 
found near the surface, and no sinker is then required on 
the line." 

The following are the dimensions of the "Seth Green 
Gang," as illustrated in the cut. The hooks are number 8, 
forged O'Shaughnessy. From the bend of the lower treble 
hook. A, to the bend of the treble hook B, one and one- 
quarter inches; from the bend of the treble hook B, to the 
bend of the double hook, C, two inches. The double hook 
is made of a number 8 and a number 6, the latter for putting 
through the head of the bait. From the double hook, C, to 
the swivel, D, two and a quarter inches; swivel, one-half 
inch, making a total of six inches. The hooks are whipped 
on with waxed silk, and the gut is double between the double 
hook and the swivel. 



248 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

• Mr. Cheney's method is as follows: 




A. N. CHENEY S GANG FOR TROLLING. 

"The tackle for deep trolling consists of a stiff rod about 
ten feet long, in three joints, with double standing guides on 
second joint and tip, so that as the rod becomes bent from 
the heavy strain, the upper joints can be turned to present 
the opposite side to the pressure. A multiplying reel to hold 
150 yards of number 4 or 5 braided silk or linen line; single 
leaders of best silk-worm gut, from nine to twelve feet long, 
with two swivels tied midway in them. (I use what I call a 
swivel line, made of five box-swivels, number eight, fastened 
together by bits of iish-line nicely whipped with waxed 
silk, and this I use to connect the reel or hand-line with 
the leader.) The swivels will be found very necessary to 
keep your rod-line from twisting. A drop of porpoise 
oil will increase their freedom of action. Lead sinkers from 
two to sixteen ounces in weight are needed for deep-water 
trolling. 

"For surface trolling, or when a very light sinker is used, 
any light bait rod will answer the purpose. 

"The last of the tackle to mention is what is fastened to 
the end of the line — the minnow gang. The treble hooks 
for the gangs are made by soldering three first quality 
O'Shaughnessy hooks together, back to back. 

"The gang, as illustrated above, is such as I make and use 
for my own fishing. I make them of different sizes, i. e., 
of different distances between the hooks, and of different 



THE LAKE TROUT. 249 

sized hooks, from number lo up to number 5. I do this 
to be provided for different sized bait-fish. I use the whole 
gut length, of round, smooth, cream-colored gut, with the 
superfluous ends cut off, and the measurements of the one in 
the cut are as follows: 

"A to B, one and one-eighth inches; B to C, one and one- 
quarter inches; C to D, a single lip-hook, one and three- 
eighths inches; D to E, five and one-half inches. The 
treble hooks are number 8, and the lip-hook number 6, all 
round-wire O'Shaughnessy's, 

"An excellent lip-hook for the latter gang is made so that 
it will move on the gut, thus enabling the angler to fit min- 
nows of various sizes to one gang. The hook is fashioned by 
soldering two small loops of brass wire to the back of the 
shank of the lip hook, one at the extreme end, the other 
where the hook begins to bend sharply. Or, what is better, 
make the loops by whipping on to the hook's shank a piece 
of doubled gut, the two ends of the gut coming together 
under the whipping. Before the swivel is fastened on, put 
the end of the gang gut through the lower loop, then around 
the shank of the hook, and then through the other loop. 
The lip-hook will move up and down on the gut. Always soak 
the gut before moving the hook. 

"The bait is fastened on by first killing the minnow, or 
golden shiner, and putting the lip-hook through both lips of 
the minnow; then bend the bait and put one of the treble 
hooks into the back of the fish near the dorsal, and another 
near the caudal. A Trout almost always strikes a fish toward 
the tail. The baited gang should revolve slowly, with a motion 
as though the minnows were crippled. Practice will teach 
one the proper bend to produce the proper motion. 

"The bait most generally used, and considered the best, is 
the golden shiner, or bream, particularly for deep trolling, 
as its burnished scales can be seen for a great distance in 
clear water. For surface trolling, suckers, chubs, dace, and 



250 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



mything that comes to your net in the shape of minnows, 
m\\ answer for baiting the gang. Where bait is scarce, it is 
well to bind the minnow to the gang, with a few turns of 
strong white or lead-colored linen or cotton thread. 



1' £ t 




GEAR FOR DEEP TROLLING. 



"Figure i shows the lower end of a rod or hand-line, as it 
is supposed to be in the water. The gang A is fastened to the 
leader at C; at E the leader is attached to the reel, or hand- 
line, D D; at B a cone-shaped sinker is fastened to the 




THE LAKE TROUT. 25 I 

reel or hand-line by a half hitch of the sinker-line, which is 
about three feet long, and of weaker material than the reel- 
line. So, if the sinker gets fast, and something must be 
broken, you will lose only the sinker. From A to B there 
should be a distance of about twenty-five feet. If the swivel- 
line is used, it should connect the leader and reel-line. 

"Figure 2 shows Seth Green's hand-Hne, sinker, and three 
gangs. The sinker is fastened to the end of the hand-line, 
C C. The line, as I remember it, is about the size of a hard 
braided linen line, number o. The gangs and leaders, A B, 
twelve feet long, are fastened to the hand-line one above the 
other. To use Seth Green's own words: 

'"The first leader is usually about three feet from the 
sinker, and the others vary from eight to twelve feet apart, 
according to where the fish are. If I do not catch them fish- 
ing low, I raise the leaders, that is the two upper ones, but 
leave the lower one the same. ' 

"The line with the single gang has the sinker fastened with a 
half-hitch, so it can easily be taken off, for it is not desirable 
to take the sinker into the boat when it is fast to the line, 
as a run on the part of the fish might find the angler unpre- 
pared to put the sinker overboard at the right moment. In 
the spring, when the Trout are at or near the surface, little 
or no sinker is required. 

"Let your line run slowly ofi the reel, checking occasion- 
ally, and, as it were, feeling iox the bottom with your sinker, 
until it strikes; try and check your line at the moment of 
contact, and reel in a few feet. As the boat moves on, 
repeat this manceuver until you have out the proper length of 
line, and this depends much upon your sinker; a heavy 
sinker means a short line, while a lighter one takes a longer 
line. The idea is to keep your sinker as near the bottom as 
possible; you will touch once in a while, to make sure, but 
do it lightly, and beware of rocks! 

"Spoon baits are also used in deep trolling, and in the 



252 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

absence of live minnows you may be compelled to resort to 
the artificial. You make no change in your tackle except the 
bait. (The gang is also a favorite bait in shore or surface 
trolling for Bass and Pickerel. It is more deadly than the 
spoon.) 

"A Bass-spoon may be much improved by tying a hook, 
v^ith a length of gut, so that the hook falls two inches below 
the burr of the spoon. You will be surprised to find how many 
Bass miss the treble hook and catch the single one. The 
larger fish are caught in the deeper water, as a rule. Always 
see that your hooks are sharp before you put out your bait, 
and examine well your gang after catching a fish. 

"If any one imagines that deep trolling is very simple, 
affording little sport, I only ask him to defer judgment until 
he has tried it." 

Buoy fishing is now practiced very little, having made way 
for what is far better — trolling. It is so unsportsman-like 
a method, that I will do no more than mention it here, adopt- 
ing Seth Green's description as sufficient comment: 

"Anchor a buoy out in deep water, and cut fish in pieces 
varying in size from a hickory nut to a butternut, scattering 
the pieces around the buoy for some days; then anchor your 
boat to the buoy, using a piece of the same kind of bait on 
your hook that you had been in the habit of scattering 
around your buoy; fish near the bottom, and give it a little 
motion by giving your line short jerks. The buoy should 
not be baited the day you go fishing." 

Still another method adopted is that of the ardent sports- 
man, who cannot wait until the spring, but cuts a bell- 
shaped hole in the ice of the lake in midwinter, puts his little 
three-sided shanty to windward, and with a hand-line keeps 
his baited gang in motion, until rewarded with a strike — or 
a frost-bite! The process resultant to the strike is surpris- 
ingly simple. The line is thrown over the shoulder, and the 
stiff-limbed fisherman runs or hobbles off, till the poor defense- 



THE LAKE TROUT. 253 

less fish is flung up and out through the hole, and left to 
freeze on the ice, while the hook is baited for fresh slaughter. 
I recall one instance where a clerical friend of mine bought 
some fish caught in this way, and gave them to the cook 
with instructions to put them in a pan of water to thaw out 
before cooking. She, poor soul, was horrified, in the course 
of a quarter or half an hour, to find them vigorously and 
indubitably alive. It was merely a case of suspended anima- 
tion. But I cannot recommend this ice-box method, either 
for comfort, or for sport. 

The Lake Trout is occasionally taken with the fly, though 
the cases are so exceptional as almost to verify the contrary as 
the rule. Mr. H. H. Vail, of Cincinnati, states in "Fishing 
with the Fly," that "at several points on the Nepigon river, 
particularly in the wild water at the foot of falls, the 
Mackinaw Trout [Sali'climts nauiayciisJt) was abundant, and 
took the fly with as much vigor as any Salvcliiins fontinalis. 
We could not tell which we had struck, except from a flirt 
of the caudal fin. The 'well-forked' caudal fin of the Macki- 
naw Trout was frequently distinguished by our guides at a 
great distance. They do not play toward the surface so much 
as the Brook Trout. They were fat and lazy, two or three 
long runs generally wearying them so that they led peacefully 
into the net." 

Another writer, unknown to me by name, says: 

"I have just returned from a three weeks trip to Moosehead 
Lake, Maine, and my experience this season is a repetition 
of the past five or six years at the same place. I took with 
the fly at least one half-dozen Lake Trout, weighing from one 
and a half to three pounds each, and I have taken them weigh- 
ing four pounds, but they are rarely taken above that weight 
with fly. The time when the fly is most successful with 
them is from 4 to 7 p. m., though I have occasionally taken 
them in casting, even at high noon. 

"It is difficult to tell their 'swirl,' or rise, from the true 



2 54 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Sabuo fontinalis, but their tactics after being hooked reveal 
their true family quickly, as they set out at once on a grand 
exploration of the bottom. 

"I have also taken this fish with fly at the Sysladobsis and 
Grand lakes, Maine." 

Thus far we have been considering the characteristics of 
the fish, and the methods of his capture that are used in the 
smaller lakes during the summer months. But in the Great 
Lakes no such preparations are necessary. In them the 
water is so cold that he is not confined to the deeper por- 
tions, but is found very near the surface, certainly in the 
northern parts of Lakes Michigan and Huron, and in Lake 
Superior. In these waters, from early spring until late fall, 
our friend NamayciisJi may be caught, with trolling line or 
rod, from sailing vessel, yacht, or boat, in waters that range 
during the whole summer from 55 degrees in the neighbor- 
hood of the Manitous or Thunder Bay, to 38 or 40 degrees 
in the waters of Lake Superior. No wonder that under such 
bracing circumstances the Trout is lusty and frolicsome, and 
ready to take his chances at any time in an encounter with 
the fascinating and mysterious spoon. 

I have a dream, which sometime I hope to realize. Others 
have proved its worth and pleasures, but for me it is still in 
the vague "to be." It is to take a Mackinac boat and a coup- 
le of trusty Indians from the Sault, and coast north along 
the shore of Lake Superior, with not more than two or three 
friends for company, putting in at night, or during stormy 
weather, into one of the numerous shelters that the guides 
know very well, and fishing during the day, either from the 
boat or the rocks; enjoying meanwhile the balm-laden air, 
and the glorious scenery that belong inseparably to this 
lake. Even the prosaic cyclopaedia enters into the realm 
of the romantic in describing this wildly picturesque re- 
gion: 

"The rivers of the North Shore of Lake Superior flow 



THE LAKE TROUT. 255 

through a rough, granitic country, and are interrupted by 
numerous falls, many of which are highly picturesque. 

"The coast is for the most part rocky, and the north 
shore is much indented by deep bays surrounded with high 
rocky cliffs. Countless islands are scattered along this 
coast, many of them rising precipitously to great heights 
directly from the deep water. Some present castellated 
walls of basalt, and some rise in granitic peaks to various 
elevations, up to 1,300 feet above the level of the lake. 
Nowhere upon our inland waters is the scenery so bold and 
grand as on the north shore of Lake Superior. The irregu- 
larities of the coast, with the general depth of water, afford 
numerous good harbors." {American Cyclopcedia, article 
'' Superior y) 

But if I dream thus of future joys of angling, and of 
nature's beauties, it is because I have already had a taste 
of them in the past. 

My first memorable experience of this sort was as far back 
as in 1884, when I was one of a party of four who, in a 
well-manned and well-provisioned yacht, set forth to spend 
the month of July cruising in Lake Superior. We talked 
bravely on leaving Chicago of the Nepigon River as our 
objective point, and really did cherish some hopes, I think, 
of seeing its wild beauty, and letting our lines fall in its 
pleasant places for the sportive and toothsome creature, that 
is know to all honest and simple-minded anglers as Salvelinus 
fontinalis. But "the best laid plans of mice and men" 
don't always run our way, as we full soon found out. The 
early part of our trip was decorated by those highly-colored 
events that are always happening in books. We almost 
capsized during a sudden squall, when the green hands were 
on deck and the seasoned hands (I wonder if that is why 
they are called "old Salts".') were below. We had numerous 
encounters with wild storms and ferocious and persistent 
winds, sufficient almost to supply Clark Russell with material 



256 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

for a new marine tale. Through it all, however, we passed 
safely, and managed, during one of the pleasant days, when 
we were making what our captain liked to call "a famous 
run," to catch, by trolling, a MackinawTrout of eight or ten 
pounds, this being in the neighborhood of the Manitou 
Islands, in Lake Michigan. This, mark you, good reader, 
was on the 7th or 8th of July — mighty close to the dog-days 
— when of all fish the "lakers" are supposed to be farthest 
removed from all proximity to anything but the most heavily 
leaded "leaders." But then that is water as is water, that is 
to be found from the Manitous northward — cold, clear, pure 
— fit home for such a fish. In it he can frolic, with no fears 
of fevers and kindred ills that sap his strength in warmer 
floods. 

Once in Lake Superior, we headed to the north' ard with 
stout hearts and fond anticipations. We fed a long time on 
anticipations. A stiff head-wind made it too rough for any 
change to fish diet, and the only thing that was at all sug- 
gestive of such a change was an impertinent little island 
named "Leach," on the map, which tantaiizingly stuck to us 
for the greater part of the day, while we vainly endeavored 
to shake it off, and go our way. By sundown we realized 
the actual discomfort and possible danger to our little craft 
of spending the night in such a "nahsty" sea, and choosing 
discretion for our companion, we took the advice of Louis, 
our half-breed pilot (what a land-lubber of a pilot he was, 
even if he did know the shore!), and putting about, ran 
before the wind for Gargantua harbor, a haven of rest and 
perfect security — the most charming spot on all the north 
shore, I verily believe. How great our delight and ease of 
sailing was, none can tell, save they who have been in like 
good fortune with ourselves. We fled lightly before the 
pursuing wind and sea, and rapidly approached a shore that 
showed no outward sign of welcoming us in peace, but rose 
in majestic fir-crowned glory, where every point seemed 



THE LAKE TROUT. 2 5/ 

inhospitable, and everywhere the dashing surf beat itself out 
in long lines of snowy rage. Yet, even as we were ready 
to question the knowledge and the honesty of our dusky pilot, 
and trembled before a seeming danger, his course was justi- 
fied, and there opened before us a narrow passage between 
two points of rock, beyond which lay a calm expanse of 
water, on which a navy might have ridden securely. Meantime 
our anglers had not been idle, but as we neared the land, had 
been guarding the trolling line, to try their luck with "lakers." 
Just as we made fast to our "wharfing privilege" — the virgin 
shore on one side the yacht, and four fathoms of water on 
the other — preparatory to that prosaic but very necessary con- 
clusion of a day's labors, the supper, the last man at the line 
brought in a two-pound Brook Trout, a vara avis, indeed. 
We fell to wondering whether this was to be the custom of 
the land, but it was so unusual as to be unique; we caught 
no more of that kind of Trout in that kind of way. 

But we did have some royal sport with the "lakers." Our 
captain, even, was roused from his daily "bath," and dreams 
of "magnificent runs" for our trim little craft; and. sallying 
forth amid the dews of the early morning, with "Louis" to 
paddle his canoe (or mine, for my birch-bark was common 
property through all our cruise), came home with a job-lot of 
fish, the biggest of which was "way up" — a good, clean "high 
hook," with i3i pounds of "too, too solid flesh" to his credit. 
I, fortunately, was not far behind; "fortunately," I say, for 
thus the unkind and unhandsome feelings of envy or of jeal- 
ousy were not aroused. It was a pleasure so Protean in form 
that no one joy eclipsed the others, to ride in the tiny birchen 
shell, that responded as surely to the lightest touch of Louis' 
deftly handled blade, as the clean-cut racer of the ocean to 
the pilot's will. In the early morning sunlight the blue 
waters reflected the clearer blue above, as they quivered 
beneath the kiss of the wooing breeze, and the frail craft 
traced its dainty way in and out among a thousand rock- 



258 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

built islets that gemmed the waters, some barely breaking 
the placid surface of the lake, others towering precipitously 
to dizzy heights above us. It was a very primal hour, and 
savagedom most fitted it. The rude canoe, the dusky guide, 
the wild scene, drew vague curtains of immeasurable distance 
between civilization and me, and I was well content. It 
would have been an ever-new pleasure only to have floated 
thus, and dreamed; but as action is ever better than mere 
contemplation, except it be on the mysteries of divine love, 
it was fitting that our dreams should be often interrupted by 
the leap of the whirling spoon, and the sudden arch and 
spring of the rod, that tell of an unwilling captive, struggling 
to be set free. And then the contest — how it waged from 
side to side, now here, now yonder, never in doubt, thanks to 
the consummate skill of Indian-born Louis, and the trusty 
fibers that linked the angler to his prey, yet always attended 
with such delightful uncertaint}^ as made its attractions only 
more piquant and fascinating. Mystery surrounded the cap- 
tive's every movement. No glimpse of him was seen; only 
the tense line, and the swaying boat, and the springing rod, 
showed how and where the fight was being waged, until at 
last, one by one, the beautiful cold Trout were brought to gaff 
and the jiltiina tliulc of all good fish, the angler's "string," 
by the combined efforts of Louis and myself. The results 
were not stupendous, since the largest fish weighed only 
nine or ten pounds, but what need had we of more.' Our 
wants were fully met, and we had had a witching day. Its 
fragrant memory lingers yet with me, and I joy in recalling 
its incidents. Five long years have passed since then, and 
other scenes of action far more varied have followed; yet 
still my heart goes back with strong desire to those countless 
islands of the deep, and lofty, verdure-topped heights of 
inaccessible rock, and I would fain be there again, to float 
and dream, and dream and float, and lead the lotus-eater's 
life of ease. 



THE LAKE TROUT. 259 

One of the most famous spots for Lake Trout fishing that 
is at present known to anglers is Stannard's Rock in Lake 
Superior, forty-four and a half miles north-by-east from 
Marquette. It is a deadly reef, rising only in a few points, 
and to the height of a few inches, above the surface of the 
lake. Undistinguishable in calm weather, its presence would 
only be made known to the mariner in storms by the seeth- 
ing foam that marked its resistance to the angry waves. It 
was, fortunately, discovered and definitely located a number 
of years ago, by a vessel captain whose name it bears. The 
government has built upon its northern end a massive light- 
house, whose flashing white light, a hundred feet above the 
surface of the lake, gives warning to sailors eighteen miles 
away of the dangers that surround it. Thus it is robbed of 
its terrors, and becomes instead of a constant menace to navi- 
gators, a guide to the venturesome angler who seeks excite- 
ment and his fill of sport. Southwest from the light, distant 
perhaps a quarter of a mile, there is a submerged plateau, 
lying north and south, and covered by eighteen or twenty 
feet of water. This is where the Trout are to be found in 
seemingly countless numbers. The lighthouse-keepers must 
find the place for you, and you must scale the outside of the 
lighthouse-tower to find the keepers. Genial men they are 
when found, and trusty, leading a life of solitude that would 
be unbearable were it not for the constant duties that engross 
their time. If you go to see them, reader, take with you 
fresh meat and vegetables — not as a bribe — they do not need 
it — but to vary the monotony of the salt pork and canned 
goods diet to which they are necessarily so much restricted. 
I wish I could give the names of the men who greeted our 
party with so much courtesy, and showed us such kindly 
attention; but alas, the log of the Argo is deficient in this 
regard. It matters not whether they are still there, or have 
been transferred to other fields of usefulness, the lighthouse- 
keepers will gladly go and buoy the spot, and set you fishing. 



26o AMERICAN GAME FISHE?. 

Hither, in the middle summer of 1887, a party of four, of 
which I had the privilege of being one, hastened in the 
schooner yacht Argo, anxious to make trial of the sport. 
After enduring the customary trials of the yachtman's life, 
including the unavoidable "splicing of the main brace," which 
seemed for some unexplained reason to be in a very unstable 
condition, and to require unusual care, we reached at 
last one afternoon our destination. Everything was favorable. 
The sky promised a quiet night, a gentle breeze just ruffled 
the water, and served to render visible the grizzly terrors of 
the reef. We visited the lighthouse, of course. In fact that 
was the first thing we did, "going ashore" up the side of the 
lighthouse foundation, a good fifty feet above the water. It 
almost took our land-lubber's breath away, and if we had 
reckoned on the return, some of us would certainly have 
stayed at home on board our little vessel. With the utmost 
courtesy the keeper and his assistants showed us over the 
house, which was as bright as a new pin, and as clean as if 
an army of housekeepers had just put it in order. They 
promised on the morrow to come off early and "stake off our 
claim" for us, a thing which it would have been quite impos- 
sible for us to do. They also promised us a quiet night, and 
the prospect of a good day. But, "landy!" as I heard a good 
angler vociferate the other day, do you suppose we were con- 
tent to wait until "to-morrow," when opportunity still waited 
on to-day.'' Nay, verily, as soon as politeness let us leave 
the tower, we set to work, and when darkness and hunger 
both warned us to quit the sport, we had already a fair store 
of sightly fish to grace our vessel's "counter." We had the 
quiet night that was promised us, and shortly after sun-up 
our friends came off, and planted can-buoys at each end of 
the fishing ground and let us set to work. Every boat we 
could command was impressed into the service, and every 
hand that was not engaged in pulling an oar, or tending the 
wheel, was yanking and pulling here and there with the con- 



THE LAKE TROUT. 26l 

stant excitement of the chase. Back and forth, "down the 
middle and back again," we "chassez-ed" and "allez-ed," the 
yacht meantime becoming infected with the spirit of the 
chase, and fishing across our tracks, the cook, even, having 
"rigged a cast" of a big hook adorned with a bit of red flan- 
nel, which proved quite sufficiently "taking." The others 
were disposed at first tc laugh at my eight-ounce rod and 
light line, and to assert that they would have "more fun" 
than I; but after they had seen the process of "playing" a 
fish, and bringing him to gaff, they concluded that although 
I might not catch quite so many, I was having my full share 
of sport. The "midshipmite" was most successful in quantity, 
but as afterward in our hours of ease, he was heard slangily 
to asseverate that "there were no flies on" the Marquette 
girls, we concluded that his taking ways proved him a "spoon" 
of the first water. In the matter of qjiality I felt myself 
abundantly satisfied. The biggest fish of the trip fell to my 
rod — a rousing i8-pounder, which met me with the veritable 
"laker" tactics, sounding at once, and playing low as long as 
he had any fight in him. I should think that it took me 
about fifteen minutes to bring him to gaff, up to which he 
was led without trouble. My other noteworthy fish scaled 
eleven, thirteen and one-half, fifteen and sixteen pounds, 
and there were a number that ranged in weight from nine 
down to two and one-half pounds. Our total catch for the 
evening and the morning was 151 fish, weighing in all 550 
pounds. We quit the sport at 1 1 o'clock so as to make sail 
and reach Marquette if possible before night-fall. I may 
remark in passing that the uncertainty of a yachtsman's life 
was shown in that unfulfilled expectation. The wind died 
away, the threatening clouds came up, and we sailed igno- 
miniously into the harbor the next morning in the midst of a 
dense and driving mist — forty-five miles in twenty hours! 
It might have been worse, but for that invaluable "main 
brace" and its exacting condition. 



262 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

The characteristics of the Mackinac Trout were fully shown 
during this outing at Stannard's Rock. Not a single fish 
broke water after being struck, nor did we see them at all 
until just as they were being brought to gaff. They showed 
no tricky ways, and only ordinary caution was necessary in 
boating them. But they were very active in the water; 
again and again as one fish was being reeled in, he would be 
followed by others, apparently out of wanton curiosity, who 
would come close to the boat, and then, with a saucy flirt of 
the tail, turn away, only, perhaps, themselves made captive, 
to be followed in turn a minute later by their still untram- 
meled brethren. 

Lake Gogebic furnished wonderful fishing when its waters 
were still new to the angler — so did the Eagle Waters — so 
have many other newly opened-up lakes and streams which 
now have lost their pristine glory; but here is an apparently 
inexhaustible source of fish sport, if only commerce, with its 
insatiable greed, does not deplete it. It is so far removed from 
land, and the fishing is attended with so much of uncertainty 
and danger on account of the elements, that it must be always 
an open question whether the sportsman-angler will meet 
with the fulfilment of his plans. We were exceptionally for- 
tunate; the weather could not have been better if it had been 
"made to order;" even a few days earlier or later, in our 
own case, and rough weather would have made it necessary 
for us to forego our pleasure. 

Other yachting parties have visited this rock and carried 
away immense catches. A well-known Chicago club-man is 
said to have caught over 2,000 pounds of fish in one day's 
fishing over these grounds, and our captain of my first yacht- 
ing trip herein mentioned caught over 1,000 pounds in a sim- 
ilar length of time. This seems very "hoggish," as one looks 
at the total, but in our own case the fish were given to the 
crew, and salted down by them for the market as soon as we 
reached Marquette, thereby furnishing a material addition to 



THE LAKE TROUT. 263 

their wages. I presume the same was done in the other 
cases I have mentioned, thereby, I hope, removing these 
particular instances from the charge of being either mercenary 
or excessive. 

I have heard and read many "fish stories" — some of which 
had "a very ancient and fish-hke smell" — but the wildest of 
them could hardly outdo the reality that confronted us at 
this famous spot. 

My pleasant task is well-nigh ended, my reader, yet I fain 
would add one parting word of most prosaic sort. The old 
adage hath it that the hare must first be caught before he's 
cooked. Our Trout are caught; how shall we serve them in 
toothsome form to the friends who gather to hear the story 
of their capture.^ The flesh of the Lake Trout is firm and 
hard, and has more or less of that "dryness," like the Brook 
Trout and the Salmon of the waters, and the quail on land, 
that makes it pall soon upon the appetite. It tastes very 
well at first — is rich and toothsome — but after a time even the 
most ardent advocate of "brain food" will admit that he 
would relish a change. Hence the importance of variety in 
the ways of serving this fish. Availing myself again of the 
kind permission of Mr. Cheney, I quote him, premising it 
by saying that, for myself, I never saw a fish spoiled by 
being delicately and carefully broiled, and served with plenty 
of sweet, butter-gravy. 

"There may be a better way to cook Lake Trout, but I do 
not know it. A fish would have to be a leviathan that I 
would boil or bake, and as for broiling, I leave that for salt 
mackerel. 

"Of course, when fishing I select the smaller fish to cook, 
as they are more easily and quickly cooked and the larger 
ones are better to send to one's friends — the happy fate of 
most of the Trout we take in Lake George. 

"Clean, and split your Trout open on the back; if then too 
large for a frying-pan, divide again vertically; if still too large, 



264 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

cut into pieces four or five inches wide; roll the halves or 
sections in Indian meal or cracker crumbs — some prefer to 
dip their fish in egg, white and yolk beaten together. Fry 
some clear fat pork in a frying pan over a /lot fire, and when 
the fat is fried out, put in your fish, flesh side down; finish 
cooking with the skin side down. Cook quickly and serve 
hot. with pepper and salt. When the crust which frying 
makes is broken, you have '^the delicious, white, moist meat, 
with all the richness which a fat Trout affords, making a dish 
fit for a hungry angler." 

It is always pleasant to quote oneself against oneself, so I 
quote Mr. C. again, suggesting merely that this last recipe is 
the result of four or five years added experience: 

"Occasionally there is caught in Lake George a Trout shorter 
and deeper than his fellows of equal weight, with real salmon- 
cclored flesh and with creamy curds between the flesh flakes. 
Such a fish has devoted his whole mind to his diet, and good 
living has changed his appearance; simply this and nothing 
more. 

"One year I cut my fishing short to return home to an 
entertainment under the old roof-tree. I had scarcely got 
my traps into the house, when my grandmother told me that 
she must have a Salmon for the lunch the next day. I showed 
that it was impossible to telegraph to New York and get a 
Salmon at the hour it was required, and disappointment 
reigned. Among the fish that I had brought home was one 
of these specially fed Trout of io.\ pounds. I asked for the 
list of the expected guests, and when I had read it I announced 
that I had a Salmon that I had until that moment overlooked, 
and I advised that it be boiled and served cold, covered with 
mayonnaise and garnished with parsley, and placed before 
me to serve. Considering the occasion, I was only shaky 
about one of the men, for I knew he had eaten Salmon from 
the Columbia River to New Brunswick, and he might be 
critical even in a friend's house. The only one who ever 







.ijjr;; ::?^'H ^N^ 



m 



THE LAKK TROUT. 265 

Spoke of that fish to me was that very man, and it was when 
we were at table together and actually eating Salmon, that 
he compared the real with the bogus, and the bogus won 
by a throat-latch." 

Here is the Bisby-Club cook's way, and they do say that 
she has no equals and few superiors in the art that goes so 
far toward solving the question, "Is life worth living.'" — I do 
not know to whom I am indebted for it: 

"Our party caught several small Lake Trout, which, 
dressed, beheaded and deprived of all their fins, were plumped 
into the bubbling water on top of the potatoes a few minutes 
before the latter were cooked through, and transferred to 
our platters piping hot, so that the butter would instantly 
melt and permeate the flesh. The method was new to some 
of us, and every man acknowleged that he had never tasted 
Lake Trout at its best before. We had eleven members at 
the table yesterday, and the verdict was unanimously in favor 
of boiling the Lake Trout. As between broiling and frying 
there was a variance of opinion, but a majority put down the 
latter method as the third best." 

The Bisby Club will please excuse the liberty I have 
taken. 

In gaffing the fish, if the angler can handle the gaff himself 
it will be well, both because one is loth to scold himself in 
case of failure, and also because he can then use the gaff in 
the most satisfactory way, striking up from below, and draw- 
ing the fish tovv'ard him with the same motion. When there 
is time for deliberation it is well to place the gaff as near the 
throat of the fish as possible to avoid unsightly disfiguring. 
Then, when you have your fish, be merciful, and deal him 
the coup de grace quickly, by striking him sharply on the 
head with a small club, or the end of the gaff-handle. After 
you have practiced on a few of them, you will know just how 
to hold the fish so as to avoid hitting your fingers as the 
"thumping stick" slides off the slippery head. Perhaps it 



266 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

will be just as well to begin by holding just back of the gills 
and hitting across the head. 

A fish should never touch the ice when being prepared for 
keeping or transportation. Without washing him, after you 
have drawn him, "wipe him dry as possible with a bit of old 
muslin, and wrap him up in a piece of the same, and pack 
in straw, dried leaves or grass, that have also been placed in 
the ice-house. A fish is firmer and better and will keep 
longer under this treatment. Never wash a fish you wish to 
send away," 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT. 

BY G. o. SHIELDS {Coquina). 

It is popularly supposed that there are many species of 
Trout in our western mountain streams and lakes, but, in 
fact, all the Trout found in waters west of the Missouri River 
may be referred to three species. These are (a) the Rocky 
Mountain Trout, Salino pnrpuratus, also variously known 
as the Salmon Trout, the Yellowstone Trout, the Lake 
Trout; (b) the California Brook Trout. Saluio iridens, other- 
wise known as the Rainbow Trout, the Sierra Nevada Trout, 
the Lake Tahoe Trout, etc., and (c) the Rio Grande Trout, 
Salmo spiliims. 

It is not strange that even close observers, who are not 
experts in ichthyology, should be misled in judging of these 
fishes, for individuals of any given species vary so under vary- 
ing conditions as at times to require the most careful scru- 
tiny of the expert to place them in their proper class. For in- 
stance, a fish-dealer in Tacoma — an intelligent, well-informed 
man by the way — told me that there were five distinct species 
of Trout in the waters thereabouts, and proceeded to select one 
of each from his stock and explain its peculiarities. He called 
them the Salmon Trout, the Sea Trout, both of which he 
said were caught in Puget Sound; the Puyallup Trout, taken 
only from the lower Puyallup River; the Bull Trout, found 
in all the streams flowing into the sound, and the Glacier 
Trout, that he said was found only in the head-waters of 
streams flowing out of the Mount Tacoma glaciers. 

When one of each was ranged on the board, the variety of 

267 



268 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

colors and shapes was indeed enough to puzzle the most 
learned ichthyologist in the land. The Salmon Trout was 
mildly colored and deep in proportion to his length; the Sea 
Trout was brighter and was long and slender — a veritable 
greyhound in build ; the Puyallup Trout was heavier in pro- 
portion to his length than either of the others; his spots were 
black and well accentuated, and his whole contour showed 
that he was lazy and well-fed. The Glacier Trout was 
smaller than any of the others, and the dealer said he never 
grew to weigh more than a pound. He was of a dull, milky 
hue — like the water he inhabited — was lank, lean and looked 
as if there had been a famine in his neighborhood. 

The Bull Trout was king of the group. He hailed from 
the Green River and wore such a suit of clothes as could only 
preserve the resplendent colors in its icy crystalline embraces. 
He was large and lusty, fat and pugnacious-looking, with a 
head like his namesake and a belly that showed he had 
been living on the fat of the land. His pectoral fins and 
throat were a fiery, cardinal red; his belly and sides, silvery; 
his back, a dark somber green, and his round black spots 
appeared to stand out like the heads of hobnails. His whole 
aspect showed him to be an aggressive, intrepid navigator, a 
fish that would stem the wildest cataract on the river and 
that, if hooked, would make sad havoc of any but the best of 
tackle, and of even that, unless managed by an expert 
angler. 

Nearly every stream and every lake of any note, in our great 
western mountain district, has a Trout that neighboring 
ranchmen, if there are any, deem a distinct species peculiar 
to that water. In other waters you will find Trout bearing 
other local names, as the Flathead Lake Trout, the Yellow- 
stone Trout, the Green River Trout, the Geyser Trout, and 
many others, for which their sponsors claim characteristics 
not to be found in any other Trout. But these characteristics 
ma}' usually be traced to certain conditions of water, food^ 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT. 

A 



269 




270 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

color and character of rocks, or other matter, composing the 
bed of the stream or lake in question, and the fact should 
never be lost sight of, that if a Trout be taken from any one 
of these waters, transported and placed alive in any other 
water inhabited by Trout, he will in a few hours, or days at 
most, be substantially like his new neighbors, not only in 
color but in other respects. 

There are Trout in the Bitter Root River that grow to 
weigh ten to fifteen pounds — light-colored, long-waisted fel- 
lows — which the natives call Cannibal Trout, because they 
can only be caught with a live minnow. The ranchmen on 
that stream will tell you that Cannibal Trout are not found 
in any other water in the territory. 

And when all these supposed species of Trout come to be 
critically examined by a skilled ichthyologist they prove to 
vary from the type of their species only on account of cer- 
tain conditions under which they have lived. Salt water, 
brackish water, fresh water of slow current and only par- 
tially clear; the milky, lime-charged water of the glaciers; 
the clear, cold water that foams over rapids in the typical 
mountain streams; scant or abundant food, and its quaHty 
as well as quantity; sex, old age or youth, are all important 
factors in coloring and shaping Trout. If one of the Sea 
Trout "were taken from Puget Sound and placed in the icy 
currents at the foot of the Tacoma glaciers, and one of 
the Glacier Trout taken from his home and turned loose in 
the sound, they would change color, and, to some extent, 
other characteristics, soon after changing places. 

All these Tacoma Trout, as well as the Cannibal Trout — 
and in fact as well as nearly all Trout to be found in any 
mountain water west of the Missouri and north of the fortieth 
parallel of north latitude — belong to the species that forms 
the subject of this paper — i.e., the Rocky Mountain Trout, 
Salino piu'pnratus. This species is described by Professor 
David S. Jordan and Charles H. Gilbert in 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TKOUT. 2/1 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY. 

Salino purpuratus — Pallas. Salvion Trout of the Columbia; 
Yellowstone T)'07it ; Rocky Moiintain Brook Trout ; Lake 
Trout. 

Body moderate elongate, compressed. Head rather short, 
mouth moderate, the maxillary not reaching far beyond the 
eyes. Vomerine teeth as usual, set in an irregular zigzag se- 
ries; teeth on the hyoid bone normally present, but of ten obso- 
lete, especially in old examples. Dorsal fin rather low; cau- 
dal fin slightly forked, less so than in iride?is [This is the 
California Brook Trout or Raiiilnna Trout'\, more than \n spilu- 
nis [Rio Grande Trout], the caudal more forked in young indi- 
viduals than in the adult, as in all Trout. Scales moderate, 
varying to rather small. Back and caudal peduncle profusely 
covered with rounded black spots of varying size; dorsal, cau- 
dal and adipose fin covered with small black spots about as 
large as the nostril; a few spots on the head; belly rarely spot- 
ted ; inner edge of the mandibles below with a red blotch; 
sea-run specimens are nearly uniform silvery; males with 
a broad lateral band and patches of light red; extremely 
variable in color and form. Head 4; depth 4. D. 10 A. 
10.; Caeca 43. Scales variable in size, 33 — 150 — 30 to 39 — 
170 — 30. The common Trout of the Rocky Mountains 
and Cascade region, abounding in all the streams of 
Alaska, Oregon and Washington, where it descends to salt 
water, and reaches a weight of twenty pounds (Columbia 
River, Charles J. Smith); also in the Yellowstone Region, 
the Upper Missouri, the Upper Rio Grande, Colorado, and 
the lakes of the Great Basin of Utah, being very abundant in 
Utah Lake. Not common south of Mount Shasta in Califor- 
nia. This species is apparently the parent stock, from which 
our other Black-spotted Trout have scarcely yet become dif- 
ferentiated. Considerable local variations occur, especially in 
size, coloration, and size of scales. The red blotches on the 
lower jaw between the dentary bones and the membrane join- 
ing them is very constant and characteristic. [Synonomy.] 

{Salmo purpuratus, Pallas, Zool. Ross. Asiat. iii, 374, 18 ri — 
31: Saltno rA?;-/'z, Rich. Fauna Bor. — Amer. iii, 224, 1836: 
Fario stellatus, Girard, Proc. Acad., Nat. Sci. Phila. 219, 1856; 
Salmo hrcvicauda Suckley, Am. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. vii, 308, 
1861: Salmo stcliratus, gibbsi, ■}, dind Irevicauda, Gunther, vi. 117 — 
120; Salmo clarki, Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. i, 77; Salmo 
tsuppitch, Jordan, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. i, 'J2; Fario aurora, Girard, 



272 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.jPhila.viii, 218, iS^6;Sa/ar /e7ais/, Grd. Proc, 
Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila. 219, 1856; Salar virginalis, Girard, 1. c. 
220; Sabno carinatus. Cope, Hayden's Geol. Surv. Mont. 1871, 
471 — 472; Sahno Utah, Luckley, Monogr. Salmo, 136; Sabno 
au?'ora, lewisi, and virginalis, Gunther, vi, 119 — 123.) 

In "The Fishery Industries of the United States," issued 
under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution, the fol- 
lowing observations are made on this fish: 

BLACK-SPOTTED TROUT SALMO PURPURATUS. 

This fish is known as the "Trout," "Mountain Trout," 
"Spotted Trout," "Black Trout," "Silver Trout," etc., in 
the mountains, but when in the ocean, full grown, as "Sal- 
mon Trout," or "Steel Head." The Indian name, "Preestl," 
is also ascribed to it on the Upper Columbia. It reaches 
a weight of thirty pounds under the most favorable circum- 
stances, but may be found in any stream or lake, of any 
length from two inches up to two or three feet. Unlike 
5". Gardineri, the young are very common, and it probably 
begins breeding in mountain streams, at a length of less than 
a foot. It is universally distributed through the Rocky 
Mountain region, chiefly east of the Sierra southward, but 
reaching the sea from Mount Shasta northward. It occurs 
in every lake of New Mexico, Utah, Western Colorado, 
Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Every 
stream throughout the most of this region abounds in them; 
in Puget Sound the young of every size occur in the salt 
waters in abundance. Individuals are occasionally taken 
along the California Coast. 

Local variations occur in abundance. Specimens from 
Seattle have the scales notably larger than those from Vic- 
toria and Astoria, which agree with Utah Lake specimens 
in this respect. Those that live in the depths of shady lakes 
are almost black, while others are pale. Those in the sea are 
silvery, and only faintly spotted. Only in Lake Tahoe, 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT. 273 

do the variations assume any marked importance {ri'ar Hcn- 
shazui.) Individuals intermediate between this species and 
5. Gai'dincri are not rare, and there is no doubt that the 
latter is simply an offshoot from this general stock, as are S. 
iridens and S. stomias. It feeds on any living thing it finds 
near it. In the mountain lakes it spawns in the spring, 
running into the rivers for that purpose. Its great enemies, 
at that season, are the various species of Suckers and Chubs, 
which feed, the former upon its eggs, the latter upon the 
young Trout. So very destructive are the former in many 
Trout lakes, as Utah Lake, that the destruction or diminution 
of the Suckers ought to be accomplished by law. A parasitic 
tapeworm, DibotJicriiiin corticcps, Leidy, is said to frequently 
infest this species so as to render its flesh uneatable in the 
summer, in the Yellowstone Lakes. (Yarrow.) 

As a food fish this Trout is excellent. Large numbers of 
the variety Henshawi are shipped to the market of San Fran- 
cisco. Attempts have been made to cultivate it in ports of 
California, with success. A small hatchery has been estab- 
lished at Tahoe City for the purpose of keeping stocked a 
small branch of the lake in which summer visitors may fish. 
In the opinion of the writer this species is likely to prove 
much more valuable for introduction into eastern waters than 
the Rainbow Trout. It is more active, more gamy, reaches 
a larger size and thrives in a greater variety of waters. 

The habits as well as color and shape of the Rocky Moun- 
tain Trout vary in different waters, but in all cases are widely 
different from those of the eastern Brook Trout. The latter 
loves to hide under a log, a drift, or a rock, while the former 
seeks an open riffle or rapid for his feeding or lounging ground 
and when alarmed takes refuge in some deep open pool, but 
rarely or never under a rock or log. Fontinalis is a lover of 
dark, shady nooks, while Piirpuratus always prefers the sun- 
niest parts of the lake or stream. The eastern Trout feeds 
till well into the night, many a basket being filled with him. 



274 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

after the shades of night have drawn over the water; while 
his mountain cousin usually suspends operations promptly at 
sunset. 

As to game qualities, the western Trout is every inch the 
peer of his eastern congener; and some anglers have claimed 
that his first rushes were even more vicious, and that he was 
a wickeder tackle-smasher than the civilized Trout. It is 
difficult to judge accurately on this point, certain individuals 
of either species possessing more of the wild-cat impulsive- 
ness than the average of their fellows; but there can be no 
doubt in the minds of those anglers who have thoroughly 
studied both species under all the varying conditions of sea- 
son, character of water, weather, etc., that the Rocky Moun- 
tain Trout is not excelled in game qualities by any species of 
this noble family. 

Generally speaking, the same tackle is required for the 
average Mountain Trout as for Brook Trout. If, however, 
one is to fish some of the larger creeks and rivers that have 
not been "fished out," so that a lusty five or ten pounder is 
liable to be encountered, then Salmon tackle should be 
employed. These very large ones rarely take a fly, how- 
ever; but when they do, the best double-gut leader, the best 
number 6 braided silk line and a ten or twelve ounce split- 
bamboo rod will be taxed to their utmost to land him. Sev- 
eral cases are on record wherein a six or eight inch Trout has 
been taken on the fly, and while being reeled in has been 
swallowed by one of these ten-pounders. Where very light 
tackle was being used, the big Trout of course took it, and 
walked off with his tail over his back; but in other cases the 
implements and the skill of the man at the other end of them 
were sufficient to stay with him, and then a fight has ensued 
that can only be compared to that of a wild grizzly that has 
been roped by an intrepid cowboy. 

As to flies, I have usually found a brown hackle and a 
white moth the most killing for Mountain Trout — the former 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT. 



275 




2/6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

for sunshiny weather, and the latter for cloudy weather or for 
morning and evening. Both should be of large size — such as 
are made for Bass and Salmon — and should be tied on 3-0 
Sproat or Limerick hooks, and these mounted on the best 
double and twisted gut snells. 

Generally speaking, it is not sportsman-like or esthetic to 
use bait in taking Trout, but there are times when no fly in 
the book will lure the Mountain Trout ; and at such times the 
angler is justifiable in resorting to more substantial diet, 
especially if he have traveled a long distance and incurred a 
heavy expense to reach the mountains. At such a time he 
need not seek farther than the plebeian grasshopper. For 
all-around work, every day in the week, it is the most killing 
bait extant. There is not one Trout in a hundred but will 
pounce upon a good fat 'hopper, like a hungry dog on apiece 
of raw liver, and if you are on a stream that has Trout in it, 
if you have good tackle, a tomato-can full of 'hoppers and 
then don't fill your creel it's your own fault. The only Moun- 
tain Trout that ever turns his tail to a grasshopper is the 
big old fellow — the ten-pounder — the "Cannibal Trout" of 
the Bitter Root; and almost the only bait that will raise him 
out is a minnow or a baby Trout. 

If you ever fish a large mountain stream, a river that has 
large deep pools that you can't see the bottom of, go up one 
of the little brooks that flow into it, to where you can catch 
some finger-long Trout; put them in a pail, keep them alive, 
and go back to the river. Put on a 3-0 hook, pass the point 
into the mouth of one of the small Trout and out at his gill, 
so as not to hurt him ; cast into the deepest part of the pool, 
let him run and you are liable to get into trouble. Under- 
stand, I don't advise this method as a steady occupation, but 
only as a last resort; and to take one of the big Trout in this 
way — one that is so blamed smart he won't look at a fly, or 
even a 'hopper — is, I claim, legitimate sport. 

I have never resorted to this means myself, for I have 



THE ROCKY MOl'XTAIN TROUT. 2/7 

always been able to catch plenty of two and three pounders 
with a fly or with grasshoppers, and they were good enough ; 
but I have known others to do so, and if ever I get left on the 
fair-sized ones I am liable to go after one of the big ones in 
this way. I speak of using small Trout for bait, only because 
chubs or other minnows are rarely found in mountain streams. 

Worms need scarcely to be mentioned here, for they are 
not indigenous to the mountain soil, and so the Trout there 
are not educated to them. They occasionally take them, 
when offered, but not with the eagerness of the Brook 
Trout. 

Of all angling known to lovers of angling, that wherein the 
Mountain Trout is the object of pursuit is surely the grandest, 
the most fascinating. That this statement will be challenged 
by the Salmon angler, and the more modern Tarpon angler, I 
am well aware; and though I grant the advocates of each of 
these, all the glory and all the sport there is in their kinds of 
fishing, yet I am prepared to stand by my assertion; and if 
only the devotee of either of the big fishes will but come with 
me into the mountains for a week, I will convince him that I 
am right. 

The joys of Mountain Trouting are largely owing to the 
surroundings. The character of the streams and lakes, the 
grand mountain ranges that overshadow them, the rare, 
exhilarating atmosphere that fills the sportsman's lungs and 
buoys up his spirits, are conditions that are not enjoyed in 
any other class of fishing, unless it be that for Salmon, and 
not usually even this. Then the fact that the Trout rise 
greedily at almost every cast, and that frequently a dozen or 
more of them will rush for the flies at once, while in Salmon- 
fishing a rise is a thing usually to be long and eagerly worked 
for before being obtained, places Mountain Trouting far in 
advance of it, in the opinion of most men who have enjoyed 
both, notwithstanding the difference in size of the two fishes. 

A better idea of the sport under consideration may per- 



278 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

haps be conveyed by a narration of a day's experience in it, 
than in any other way, and this I will venture to give. 

On a bright morning in May, 1888, I left Tacoma, Wash- 
ington, on an east-bound Northern Pacific train, and after 
riding some distance up the Puyallup Valley I left it, crossed 
through some heavily-timbered foot-hills and emerged on 
Green river, a good-sized stream that rolls down out of the 
Cascade Mountains. At the first station on this stream, I 
went forward and got on the engine in order to get a better 
view of it. I had been over this part of the road before, but 
in the night, and had not seen this stream. I inquired of the 
engineer and fireman concerning the fishing, and they said it 
was good; that several large catches had been made within 
the past two weeks, and that one Trout weighing seven 
pounds had been taken a few miles above where we then 
were. 

The fever began to come on me at once, and as we thun- 
dered round the short curves and sped along rocky walls, ten 
or twenty feet above the stream, as we rolled over the nu- 
merous bridges whence I looked into the sparkling, eddying 
pools and saw great dark-backed Trout, darting hither and 
thither in flight from the rumbling monster above them, ] be- 
came more and more nervous. Great mountains rose from the 
bed of the river, and here and there the stream hewed its way 
through imposing ledges of granite. Occasionally the engi- 
neer would call my attention to a dissolving view of old Mount 
Tacoma, now but a few miles away, as we sped by an open- 
ing in the foot-hills. Then he would point out a rugged 
mountain side, whereon some hunter of his acquaintance had 
slain a bear, or a dark canyon wherein someone else had 
killed a cougar, or a clump of pines in which a big elk had fall- 
en a prey to still another sportsman. Then he would tell of 
the sheep and goats on the peaks farther back, of the trail to 
Tacoma and of the coal mines back in the hills. But though 
all these things would have been full of interest to m,e at 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT. 2/9 

another time or in another place, I heard Httle of them now. 
I was too busy watching the rapidly changing panorama of 
that grand torrent beneath our wheels. Not a stroke of the 
piston rod or an exhaust of the cylinder, as the great engine 
climbed the steep grade, and rounded the ever-recurring 
curves, but revealed new beauties, and inspired fresh admi- 
ration. 

I inquired the distance to the point where we should leave 
the stream, and learning that it was yet some miles ahead, I 
rushed back to the coach, found the conductor and besought 
him to give me a stop-over check, and have my baggage 
unloaded. He complied, and a fellow-passenger who had 
been watching the stream, and had heard our conversation, 
made a similar request. So we were both unloaded at the 
mouth of a wild gorge where there was a small, new board 
building, that served for the station, and a few log-cabins 
occupied by the section men. 

The sun was now well toward the zenith, and by the time 
we exchanged our good clothes for our fishing suits, and got out 
our tackle, the dinner-horn blew. We went into one of the 
cabins, elbowed our way among the section men, and wrestled 
with corned beef, salt pork, potatoes and sour bread until we 
felt equal to a big afternoon's work. In the course of our 
conversation, I learned that my fellow-traveler was a Congre- 
gational minister, from a thriving city in Pennsylvania, and 
that he was on his first journey west of the Mississippi; so that 
this wild country was especially wild and fascinating to him. 

Dinner over, we walked up the track about two miles to 
where there was a good place to get down to the stream, 
waded into it, and the trouble began at once. We entered 
at the head of a boiling rapid, and both cast at about the 
same time. I missed my first rise, but my companion hooked 
a big one that, after making two frantic leaps, turned and 
went down the stream like a bolt of lightning, taking the lead, 
fly, and a foot of leader with him. He appeared to be 



28o AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

about eighteen inches long, and would probably have weighed 
three pounds or more. I had meantime secured a couple of 
small ones, that fought gamily, but came to the net without 
serious difficulty. Meantime my neighbor had repaired the 
damage to his tackle, and at the next cast secured three — 
two of about a pound each, and one of half a pound. They 
gave him a lively tussle for perhaps ten minutes, when he 
netted and creeled them safely. I had meantime fished on 
down to the foot of the rapid without getting another rise. 
We whipped the big pool at the foot of the rapid, from oppo- 
site sides, without success, and then started down the next 
reach of swift water. At the second cast I made in this, a 
two-pounder took my first dropper — a brown tackle — and 
began a series of leaps and rushes that made me shudder. 
He finally headed down the stream. I gave him line, and 
when he had taken out perhaps fifty feet of it I felt a fearful 
surge on my rod, that told me plainly my foe had received 
reinforcements. An instant later a Trout fully twenty inches 
long leaped full out of the water, turned a complete somer- 
sault, shook his jaws savagely and returned to the foaming 
element, with a splash that threw sparkling drops high on the 
shore. The big fellow now headed up the stream with such 
vigor and determination as to tow his mate bodily through 
the current for some twenty feet, though the junior captive 
plunged and bucked like a wild cayuse in his efforts to resist. 
I trembled for my tackle, but, releasing the spring of the 
automatic reel, every inch of slack came in as fast as it was 
given. 

The big Trout soon tired of his load; turning square about, 
he made a dive for the pool at the foot of the rapid, and his 
running mate seconded the motion. Again I pressed the spring, 
and the reel sung a lively song as the line went out. Mean- 
time, I followed as fast as I could, but my footing was inse- 
cure, the rocks slippery, and I was in constant fear lest an 
unlucky slip should land me on my back in the icy water. 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT. 



281 




282 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

When the pair of racers reached the deep water, they were 
nearly a hundred feet ahead of me, and I wished I could have 
had a telegraph wire on them, instead of the little frail silken 
line that was singing through the water and vibrating in the 
air ahead of me. 

I held it taut, rushed down the river as rapidly as possi- 
ble, taking up all the line I could get as I went. When I 
reached the head of the pool and got a footing on a bed of 
gravel at the water's edge, my hopes returned, but I was 
still sorely harassed by fears, for my Trout were now cutting, 
darting and leaping hither and thither at such a rate that it 
seemed impossible that the delicate tackle could stand the 
strain much longer. 

Presently the smaller of the two began to tire of the uneven 
contest, and gradually yielded to being towed about by his 
powerful companion — sometimes on his side and sometimes 
on his back. 

I now took a firm control of the big one, and commenced to 
haul in on him. He still resisted and fought obstinately, 
but time and his heavy load at last began to tell on him too. 
His rushes became less vigorous than at first, and he 
yielded more and more to the strain of the rod. He had 
now not more than twenty feet of line out, and occasionally 
showed a disposition to stop and rest, but this I did not allow. 
I stirred him up and kept him moving. Gradually he sub- 
mitted to tension. I got the landing-net ready, and waded 
out till the water came near the tops of my rubber boots. I 
made one more recovery of line, passed the rod well back over 
my shoulder with my right hand, and as the two racers came 
floating helplessly toward me I slipped the net under them, 
raised them partially out of the water, staggered to the shore, 
and sank on the gravel almost exhausted, but as proud a 
man as ever drew the breath of life. 

The parson, who had long since quit fishing, came down to 
the pool and stood watching the fight; but I didn't know it 
until he spoke. 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT. 283 

"Great Caesar!" he said, as he saw the fish safely envel- 
oped in the net; "that sight is worth all my trip has cost 
from Pennsylvania out here. If I could catch such a fish as 
that hig one, I don't think I should sleep a wink for a week." 

"Well, I hope you'll get a larger one before night, though 
I don't want you to lose any sleep over it, if you do." 

I lifted the two fish from the net, laid them tenderly on 
the gravelly beach, and we sat down to admire them; and if 
God ever made anything more beautiful than they were, it 
has not yet been my good fortune to see it. Their symmetri- 
cal shape, the dark green of their backs, the iridescent, sil- 
very whiteness of their sides and under parts, all sprinkled 
with tiny black dots; the scarlet covering of their throats 
and the delicate tinting of their fins — all combined to make 
up an ensemble of loveliness that could scarcely be excelled, 
if all the elements of beauty in nature were merged into a 
single object. 

The larger of the two Trout measured twenty and three- 
fourths inches in length and twelve and one-fourth in girth; 
the smaller fifteen and one-half in length and six and one- 
half in girth. We regretted that we had not a scale with us, 
but estimated the weight of the larger fish at something over 
four, and of the smaller at two pounds. 

After resting a few minutes I began to dismount my rod. 

"Why!" said the parson, "what on the earth are you 
doing that for.'" 

"I'm through," I said. "I've caught all the fish and had 
all the glory I want to-day." 

"But you surely are not going to quit fishing while 3'ou are 
in the presence of such lovely water and such glorious sport 
as this.'" 

"That's just it. I have had enough of it, and I could not 
think of breaking the charm cast upon my fancies, by kill- 
ing that pair, with catching even one smaller and less noble 
Trout. I will go with you the rest of the afternoon, enjoy 



284 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

seeing you fish, and help you, if you need my services in any 
way, but for myself, 1 have had enough." 

I had a good deal of difficulty in getting the big Trout into 
my creel, but by carefully curving him around, I succeeded. 
The parson had resumed operations, and just as I finished 
stowing away my reel and flies, he struck a large one, in the 
big pool, with which he had grand sport for some fifteen 
minutes. He finally succeeded in landing it, and when the 
tape-line was applied to it, it scored seventeen and one-half 
inches. Then we followed down over a succession of rapids 
for probably half a mile, to a point where the river made an 
abrupt turn and had cut a deep hole in the opposite bank, 
A shelving ledge of limestone projected out over this, and 
beneath it the water whirled and effervesced, flecked here 
and there with little balls of foam that came dancing down 
in a never-ending procession, from the foot of the rapid. 

"Look out for a big one there, parson." 

"It does look promising, don't it.^" and he made a skillful 
cast, his flies falling gently on the whirling water, well over 
toward the shelving rock. Instantly there was a commotion 
on the surface, and the form of a mighty Trout was seen to 
whirl upward and dart back under the rock. The parson 
struck at the proper instant, and settling the butt of his rod 
well forward, checked the rush of the fish slightly, when it 
turned and made a dash up toward the head of the pool. 
The parson gave him line, and he sailed through the water, 
with the speed of a carrier-pigeon through the air, until he 
reached the very foot of the rapid. Then he turned and 
made another dash for the hole under the rock. The angler 
reeled in his line as rapidly as possible; but the fish was too 
quick for him, and darted under the rock, leaving several feet 
of slack hanging loosely in the water. I shuddered lest it 
should foul on some projecting rock; but when it came taut 
again, it seemed to be clear. The Trout sulked for a moment, 
but the parson urged it; when it felt the twang of the steel in 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT. 285 

its jaw it came out aj^ain like an arrow, and this time went 
down stream. It took out the hne rapidly, and before it 
could be safely checked was leaping and cavorting in the 
lower rapid, threatening destruction to the tackle. 

I shouted to my companion to give him line and run down 
stream. The parson obeyed, but it took him some time to 
get over the rocks and logs that environed the pool, and 
when he did reach the foot of it the fish was seventy or eighty 
feet below him on the shoal, and still fighting like a wild cat. 
The parson plunged into the water and started down stream 
on a run, knowing that the only hope of saving his fish lay 
in getting him into more quiet water. But he had only taken 
a few steps, when his foot slipped off a treacherous bowlder; 
he staggered, and tried to regain his footing, but the more he 
struggled the more his feet became entangled in the rocks; 
and at last he lost control of his movements entirely, and 
went down full length in two feet of icy water. I rushed to 
his assistance, but before I could reach him he had regained 
his footing and stood, half-strangled, gasping for breath, with 
the water running off him in torrents, but bravely hanging 
on to his rod, though his hat was being whirled away on the 
angry flood toward Puget Sound. I ran down-stream, waded 
in and intercepted it, and the plucky parson came staggering 
along with his fish still under fair control. As soon as it 
reached the next deep water, it began to circle, which enabled 
the parson to take up line as he came on down. He got a 
firm footing near the foot of the fall, and from that time on 
the fight was one-sided. The fish soon began to yield visibly 
to the pressure of the rod. 

The parson handled him with rare skill, and soon had him 
completely exhausted. I was on hand with my landing-net. 
but my neighbor courteously declined my services, declaring 
that he must reserve that pleasure for himself. A few min- 
utes later he deftly passed his own net under the now almost 
lifeless Trout and carried him ashore. 



286 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



He was the very counterpart of mine, and not until we 
measured him could we determine any difference in size; 
then we learned that the parson's fish was a quarter of an 
inch longer than mine. The killing of this Trout had occu- 
pied, as nearly as I could judge, about twenty minutes, but 
the parson thought it must have been an hour. 

He now took off his rubber boots, poured the water out of 
them, wrung his coat and vest, and as the sun was already 
behind the mountain we decided to go to the station. 

The parson insisted that the memory of that day's sport 
should ever be one of the fondest of his life; and as for me, I 
have had few days that I recall with feelings of more genuine 
pleasure. 




SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



BY S. C. CLARKE. 



M 



THE CHANNEL BASS OR RED-FISH — ScicEiia occllata, {Guntker.) 

UCH has been written on the Striped Bass, more of 
the Black Bass, and their alhes, the White, Green, and 
Speckled Basses, but few writers have treated of the 
above species, which is a fish of great merit in many ways. 
It is known to school-men as Pcrca ocellata, Linn; Coj^vina 
occllata, Cuv. and Val; C. cccllata, Holbrook; Scicsna occl- 
lata^ Goode and Jordan. 

With names in the vernacular, it is still more liberally 
supplied. Channel Bass, Red-fish, Red-drum, Red-horse, 
Spot, Sea-Bass, Branded-drum, and Bass, pure and simple 
these according to locality, from Barnegat Inlet to Texas. 
As Professor Goode remarks, "this species is very much in need 
of a characteristic name, as all the above names belong to 
other species," and he suggests "The Southern Red-fish" as 
most suitable. An objection to this is that the fish is not 
always red, the young being not at all so, and the adult fish 
as often of golden hue as red, and to change the popular 
name of fish or bird is perhaps impossible. 

Our Bass is a stout, thick-set fish, in color reddish-brown 
on the back, red or golden on the sides, according as the 
fish is found in fresh or salt water — white beneath, with one 
or more black spots on the base of the tail. Hence the spe- 
cific name, occllata, signifying "eye-shaded spots." It is well 

287 



288 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

supplied with large fins, and covered with big scales, which 
in large specimens are removed with a hoe. Head and 
mouth large, with fine teeth in the jaws, and paved teeth in 
the throat. The lips are tough, holding a hook securely, 
when lodged. In size from one pound to fift)^ averaging, 
says Prof. Goode, ten pounds; but in the experience of the 
present writer, somewhat less — perhaps seven. The smaller 
ones run in companies, and go by the name of "School Bass." 
The large ones go in pairs, or singly, and are called "Chan- 
nel Bass." It is not a shy fish, like the Striped Bass, requir- 
ing delicate tackle and long casts for its capture, but is a 
bold biter, always hungry, and ready to play his part — and 
he plays it well, fighting hard and long on the hook in open 
water — disdaining such tricks as running into holes, and tak- 
ing the line round roots and snags, or sulking at the bottom 
like the lordly Salmon, or biting off the line like the Shark 
or the Pike. By his deeds, if not by his words, the Red 
Bass tells the angler that it is to be a fair fight and trial of 
skill and strength between the combatants; and I have seen 
a large Channel Bass break a heavy cod-line, in the hands of 
a too impatient fisherman who tried to force the fighting. 
Be it remembered that the native fisherman on the southern 
coast uses the hand-line. 

From its size, abundance, game and edible qualities, the 
Channel Bass may be considered the most valuable sporting 
fish of the southern coast. In its habits it somewhat 
resembles the Striped Bass of northern waters, and many of 
those, who have taken both species on a rod, consider the 
southern fish as equal to the other in game quality; and the 
pursuit of our fish has this advantage: that the angler may 
rely, three days out of four, in making a catch; whereas 
the rule is reversed in the case of the Striped Bass. If you 
can kill a good-sized Striped Bass, one day in four, you do 
better than the average — as far as my experience goes. How 
many days I have sat on the rocks at Newport or Narragan- 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



289 




290 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

sett, with a crowd of patient anglers-, waiting for the strike 
of a Bass — which came not. 

This species roams widely. In summer it is taken as far 
north as Barnegat, and of very large size. At all seasons it 
is found on the Atlantic and gulf coasts of Florida, and on 
the coasts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. In win- 
ter it is confined to Florida waters, running well up into fresh 
water, but disappears when a norther brings cold weather. 
Seldom have I seen a Bass at these times; but as soon as a 
change of wind brings warm weather we find the Bass on 
hand, ready for business. Good fishing-grounds are at the 
mouth of the St. John's river, and this fish has been taken 
as far up as Magnolia, some fifty miles from the sea. I have 
also taken them in the fresh water of Spruce Creek, while 
trolling for Black Bass. Bass are taken on the beach near 
St. Augustine; at the Halifax River Inlet is also a good fishing- 
ground. New Smyrna, on the Hillsboro' River, and the 
Indian River Inlet, where the writer, in 1870, found the fish 
too abundant and eager to be caught — but perhaps this 
objection has been removed by the large number of anglers 
who have frequented that region of late years. 

In summer the Bass is found along the beach in immense 
numbers. As the fishermen say, "the surf is red with them," 
and great sport may be had with rod or hand-line, by casting 
into the surf, as the fish seem to fight harder in open water 
than in the rivers. The water being quite warm, say seventy 
degrees, wading is agreeable, and to capture a ten-pound 
fish while indulging in a warm bath is a novel experience to 
most anglers. Sharks are found sometimes in the surf, but 
do not come into the sloughs, or depressions of the beach, 
where the Bass come ro feed. 

Bands of roving hogs frequent the beach, and were ready 
to steal my fish if exposed; and once I found a couple of 
marsh ponies devouring my Bass; in this region man, beast 
and bird all live on the fruit of the sea, and there is enough 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 29I 

for all — those destructive engines, the pound-net and the 
mile-long seine, not having as yet been introduced. 
Twenty-five or thirty Red Bass have been taken by one rod, 
in the Halifax, in a day, weighing some two hundred to two 
hundred and fifty pounds. The largest one ever taken by 
the writer weighed thirty-seven pounds, and the struggle 
lasted about forty minutes. It was taken on a rod, from a 
boat, and the fish towed us at least one hundred yards before 
it was gaffed. Its mate, weighing twenty-five pounds, was 
soon after taken by my boatman, with a hand-line. My 
next in size weighed thirty pounds, and while playing it, my 
companion hooked its mate, weighing twenty-eight pounds, 
at the other end of the boat. Both were saved in about 
thirty minutes time. The same tackle that is used for the 
Striped Bass i.5 suitable for his southern cousin, except that 
a sinker of one or two ounce weight is used in casting from 
the reel, and it is unnecessary here to use gut or delicate 
tackle, which is apt to be cut by the oyster shells that cover 
the bottom of the best feeding-grounds of the Bass. Use a 
two-pieced bamboo rod — what is called a chum-rod — eight 
feet long; one hundred yards of Cuttyhunk line, and fifteen 
thread, with multiplying reel, with drag. In the matter of 
hooks, anglers have their different fancies, and I have never 
been able to find exactly the hook for Red Bass. It should 
be sharp and penetrating, and at the same time heavy in the 
wire — the hollow-point Limerick, seven-o, does pretty 
well, but I have seen a hook known as Abby & Imbries 
Whiting hook three-o, which I prefer — ^I use them ringed, 
as more easy to tie to the snood, for which I use a 
cotton line rather heavier than the reel line, as a fine line 
is apt to be frayed off by the teeth of the Bass. We lose 
many hooks from the oyster shells, and some anglers use 
a fine wire next the hook. Perhaps the best pattern of hook 
is the Sproat, but they do not come ringed or flatted. Add 
to this equipment a stout long-handled gaff, and a pair of knit 



292 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

thumb-stalls and you are ready for the fray. The Bass come 
in from the sea with the tide, and are found at different 
stages of it, either near the Inlet, on the sand banks, in the 
creeks, or along the edge of the marsh ; and a stranger needs 
a guide to find the fish. For bait, cut-mullet, or small ones 
used whole; the half of a crab is a good bait also. We usu- 
ally fish on the bottom, but Bass will take at mid-water, or 
on the surface, and often near the boat. This fish spawns in 
August or September, in the inlets and bays, as I am 
informed by Florida fishermen, and deposits many eggs, 
making it a prolific species — perhaps the most abundant on 
the southern coast. Specimens of ten or twelve pounds are 
the best for the table; the large ones are coarser, and the 
young fish have less flavor. They may be boiled, baked, or 
fried, and make a firm, well flavored and succulent dish. 

The following description is from Jordan and Gilbert's 
Synopsis of the Fishes of North America: 

ScicBna ocellata — Gthr. Channel Bass — Red Bass: Grayish 
silvery, iridescent; scales with dark spots forming faint 
irregular undulating stripes; upper part of base of caudal with 
an oval black spot as large as the eye, bordered by white or 
orange; this spot is often duplicated. Body rather elongate, 
not much elevated, cc-mpressed behind, an almost even curve 
from snout to base of dorsal; preopercle distinctly serrate; 
eye large; one and a half in. snout; five and a half in. head; 
gill-rakers short and thick; mouth large; maxillar}' nearly 
reaching the posterior margin of the orbit; caudal truncate; 
second anal spine rather strong, two thirds as long as first ray; 
pectoral fins ver}' short, not reaching half way to lower; 
pharyngeals narrow, with conical teeth. Head 3^3 ; depth 3^ 
D. X.— I. 25; A. II. 8; Lat. I. 50. Cape Cod to Mexico, 
common southward; known at sight by the peculiar caudal 
spot. 

BASS-FISHING IN WINTER. 

"The noble bass, with scales intensely dyed, 
At bay and inlet drift in with the tide; 
A roving fish, deep channels it explores, 
Mud-flats, and oyster-beds, and shelly shores." 

— McLellan^s Poems of the ^'Rod and Gun.'" 

In the month of February, 188-, leaving the frosts and 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 293 

snows of New York, with the mercury near zero, my young 
companion and I, after three days of easy travel, found our- 
selves under the sunny skies of Volusia County, East Florida, 
at a point known on the maps as Mosquito Inlet, and at the 
pleasant cottage of B.C. Pacetti, sometimes called "the count" 
— perhaps because one of nature's noblemen — at any rate the 
head fisherman of the coast. The house stands on the bank 
of the Halifax River, which enters the ocean a mile below, 
HI a fine orange grove, at the time of our visit full of delicious 
fruit, of which we took many samples the first day. 

My companion I will call "the major," because he \vas a 
minor, young, and ambitious of killing the big fish of which 
I had told him — his former experiences having been confined 
to Black Bass and Trout. In this narrative, I shall be 
known as "the judge" as everybody in the south is expected 
to have a title, and this one suits a man of ancient if not 
venerable aspect. 

Having filled ourselves with the golden fruit, and drank by 
way of contrast of the powerfully flavored sulphur water 
that flows from a fountain in the grove, w^e unpacked our 
tackle and made ready for the morrow. It dawned bright 
and propitious, with the south wind, loved by anglers, even 
from the time of Father Walton. We started at eight 
o'clock after a breakfast of sheeps-head and oysters, cooked 
by our good hostess in a style the result of many years 
experience. 

P. had a roomy and comfortable flat-bottomed boat ready 
for us, and with him at the oars, we w^ent up the river, with 
the tide about one-quarter flood. "Where will you take us 
to-day.^" I asked. "I think I will go up Spruce Creek; the 
tide will serve both ways." The Halifax River, so called, 
is one of those long, narrow bays or sounds, which are found 
along the Atlantic coast from the Delaware Bay to Florida; 
this one is about thirty miles long, running north and south; 
and from half a mile to a mile in width, shut off from the 



294 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ocean by a narrow peninsula of sand hills, and navigable for 
small craft in its whole length. Another river or bay, com- 
ing from the south, enters the ocean at the same inlet; this 
is called the Hillsboro' River, and is some twenty-five miles 
long, being connected at its southern end with the Indian 
River by a canal. On the Hillsboro', is the town of New 
Smyrna, one of the oldest in Florida, having been founded 
during the English occupation in 1769. Its interesting and 
painful history may be found in a work called "Old St. 
Augustine," published in New York in 1885, by Chas. B. Rey- 
nolds. It was destroyed during the Seminole war, and after- 
ward in the War of Secession, and has but lately begun to 
grow to the position which its situation and rich lands will 
ultimately give it. 

Our host comes of the Minorcan race, which settled New 
Smyrna, one hundred and twenty years ago, and is a fine, 
vigorous looking man of fifty years. 

We cross the Halifax River to the mouth of Spruce Creek, 
about one hundred yards wide, flowing through a labyrinth 
of islands and creeks reaching many miles south and west. 
Here P. stops at a sandy shoal to catch mullets for bait. 
This is done with a cast-net, in the use of which Florida 
fishermen are expert. A circular net, about ten feet in diam- 
eter, loaded at the edges with lead, and so arranged as to draw 
up into a bag, with pockets at the sides to retain the fish. 
P. takes the net in both hands, with the drawing cord in his 
mouth; he wades along the shoal, looking for Mullet; with a 
circular sweep the net falls on the water, and sinks to the 
bottom. He hauls it in slowly, and we see the glittering 
Mullet within the meshes. He comes to the boat with half 
a dozen fish, eight or ten inches long, bright and silvery. 
In the course of a few casts he gets twenty more, which will 
suffice for a day's fishing. The cast-net is absolutely neces- 
sary to the Florida fisherman, as the Mullet is used for bait 
for all the best fishes, except Drum and Sheeps-head. Besides 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



295 




296 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

which, the Mullet is, in summer, considered the best table- 
fish on the coast. The use of the cast-net looks easy, but it 
really requires considerable practice and some strength of 
arm to deliver it properly ; and the beginner must be careful 
to have no buttons on his dress to catch in the net, other- 
wise it may pull him down, as has often happened to ambi- 
tious novices. 

We then proceeded up the creek, the banks of which are 
low and covered with salt grass, and bordered with man- 
grove trees; the trees which, as we learn from scientists, have 
built up the peninsula of Florida, assisting the subaqueous 
work of the coral insect. We anchor in a deep channel 
about half a mile above the mouth of the creek, and near the 
bank ; the boat swings to the tide. I take the stern, the 
major amidship, and P. at the bow. We then cut up a few 
Mullets into chunks of two inches square, and baited our hooks. 

We each had a bamboo rod, eight feet long, with reels 
holding one hundred yards of line, with 7-0 Limerick 
hooks, and one ounce running sinkers. I made a cast about 
twenty five feet astern, and P., taking the major's rod, 
cast the bait into midstream fifty feet away. "Now," said 
he, "let the bait lie on the bottom; if there is any Bass 
around they'll find it." He baited his own hook, on a 
heavy hand-line, with half a Mullet, and swinging it around 
his head, cast it one hundred feet astern. 

We were in a wilderness of wood and water, with no traces 
of human occupation. A flock of blackbirds circling above 
the marsh, a white heron sitting on a mangrove tree, a fish- 
hawk occasionally stooping for a fish, and a few turkey- 
buzzards wheeling aloft in graceful flight, were all the animal 
life in view. 

"How far does the tide make up here.^" said I. 

"Three or four miles generally, but in rainy weather the 
creek is fresh clear to the mouth, so that the Black Bass are 
caught where we are now." 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 29/ 

"What?" said the major. "Black Bass here.'" 

"Plenty of them up the creek, and big ones at that," 
said Pacetti. 

"How large.''" 

"Well, I've seen them caught weighing ten or twelve 
pounds and I've heard of some as heavy as fifteen to 
eighteen pounds." 

"What!" cried the major. "Bass weighing twelve to eight- 
een pounds! I never heard of such a thing; six or seven 
pounds is as large as they grow at the North." 

"Well, they grow bigger in Florida, I reckon," said P. — ■ 
"but I've got a Bass," and he began to haul in, hand over 
hand, and soon we saw the red sides of a big fish, darting 
here and there, at the end of his line. It was a Channel 
Bass of about ten pounds— a fine fat fish. 

"That's the kind for you to hook, young man," said P. 
"Do you expect to hold one on that rod.'" 

"I would like to try, anyhow," said the major, and just 
then he had a strike ; his line began to run out rapidly, and 
he tried to stop the fish. 

"Better let him run," said I, "and put on the drag." This 
he did, and the fish showed itself on the surface, a five- 
pound Bass, which, after a few minutes play, was brought 
along-side, and gaffed. 

"Well," said the major, "that's the biggest fish I ever 
caught on a rod." 

"You will get some twice as big, before you leave the 
Halifax,"said P. 

My bait had been lying for some time quietly on the bot- 
tom, and raising my rod, I found the hook fast to something; 
as I gave a pull, my line began to move slowly away, but 
with great force so that I could not check it. 

"I think, P.," said I, "that I have hooked what our old 
friend from Rhode Island used to call a barn-door." 

"Well," said he, "what will you do — cut it loose, or play 
it.'" 



298 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

"It is not a very large one," said I. "I will try to kill it, and 
show the major some sport." The Sting-ray ran out some 
twenty-five yards of line, and then went to the bottom, when it 
stuck fast. P. took up the killick, the lines were taken in, 
and the boat was placed over the fish, and P. punched it 
with a pole till it started on another run of twenty yards, 
then it stopped and was again punched and followed. Then 
the ray started off again, towing the boat, but this exhausted 
its strength, and I reeled it up alongside. P. turned it over, 
belly up, with his long-handled gaff, against the side of the 
boat, so that it could not use its tail; then with a big knife 
he gave it several stabs in the throat and breast. The blood 
gushed out freely, and the strength of the ray was soon 
exhausted. Then the tail, with its formidable weapon, was 
cut off, looking like a long black wagon whip. The fish was 
about three feet across, and with the tail, five feet long, 
weighed perhaps fifty pounds. 

"There, major," said P., "you can dry this tail and take it 
home with you for a riding-whip." Then he let loose the 
ray, and let it drift down the tide. "The Sharks will soon 
find it; there's no better bait for a Shark than a chunk off 
a Stingaree." 

Sure enough, the carcass had not floated a hundred yards, 
before we saw and heard a great commotion in the water, as 
of big fish strugghng. "There," said P., "they have got it; 
but we had better move away a little; those Sharks will scare 
away the Bass." 

We went round a bend in the creek, and found a wide 
pool of rather shallow water with a small island in the 
middle. 

"Here is a good place for Bass; but the bottom is all oys- 
ter shells, and may cut your fine lines, but we'll give it a 
try." He anchored in the middle of the pool, the water 
being five feet deep on an oyster-shell bank. We threw out, 
and in about a minute I had a strike, and found myself fast 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



299 




300 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

to a good fish which took across the tide. After five minutes 
play I had it in the boat— a very red Bass of six pounds. 
"This is really a Red Bass," said I. 

"They grow red up in the fresh water," P. replied. 

Now the major was fast to another; but his line came 
home without hook, cut off by the shells; then P. hauled in 
a five-pounder, and I got one of four pounds. But in my 
next cast my hook was cut off. We got three more School 
Bass here, when they stopped biting, and we moved up the 
creek half a mile to a large pool with a high hamak on the 
south side, covered with wild orange trees and magnolias. 

(The above word is usually written "hammock," or "hum- 
mock," but I write "hamak," as instructed by Floridians. 
The late Capt. Douglas Dummet, of South Florida, an 
educated man, long resident on the Indian River, told me 
that the word belonged to the Seminole tongue, and was 
neither hammock nor hummock. This is also the spelling 
adopted by Mr. C. B. Reynolds, one of the editors of "For- 
est and Stream," himself a native of Florida.) 

"Now, here," said P., "we are apt to get big fish, Bass, and 
sometimes a Grouper." He anchored the boat on the north 
side of the pool, in a deep hole where the tide ran strongly. 

We with rods fished near the boat; P. sent his bait far out 
in the pool; the major had the first fish — a Black-fish of about 
a pound, which species is found smaller in these waters than 
further north. Then I hooked a Bass, seemingly of great size; 
it ran clear across the pool to the opposite bank, fifty or 
sixty yards away, then turning, came back at full speed, and 
ran wildly round the pool. After ten minutes of this work, 
I brought him to gaff, when it proved to be a six-pound 
Bass hooked in the vent, which attack in the rear had 
so alarmed the fish, that it became frantic and fought 
hard enough for a twelve-pounder. After the commotion 
in the pool had subsided, the major took a Bass of 
five pounds, and P. hooked a very large one, which, however 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 3OI 

after five minutes play, broke his hook and then escaped. 

"That's a mean hook," said he; "I ought to have saved 
that Bass." 

"Perhaps 3'ou did not play him long enough; it was a 
heavy fish," said I. 

"I don't believe in fooling with them. I just haul them 
in and give 'em no quarters," said he, 

"Well, here is a hook for you that ought to stand," 
giving him one of my best Cuttyhunks. 

Presently my line went off steadily and swiftly, and I 
could not check it. After sixty yards had run out and the 
fish still went on, I said: "He has got most of my line; I 
think P., that you must raise the anchor and let him tow the 
boat." He did so, and paddled after the fish, so that I was 
able to recover most of my line, but the Bass towed us some 
twenty yards before it gave up, and rested on the surface. 
As we approached, it made one more run, and then turned 
over, exhausted — a fine, fat, copper-red fish, which weighed, 
after we landed, twenty-four pounds. The contest lasted 
twenty minutes. 

We then returned to our former station, and it being past 
noon we opened the lunch-basket, where we found slices of 
corned beef, bread and butter, and doughnuts, also a dozen 
oranges fresh from the trees — which always taste better to 
me on the water than ashore. 

"How many Bass have we.-'" said the major. 

"Eight or ten Bass and a Trout; but we will get more yet," 
said P. "They bite well to-day; we have not lost a fish, 
except the one that broke my hook. Take another orange, 
judge." 

"I will; they are the best oranges I ever ate." 

"That's what most people say — the oranges that grow on 
these shell mounds are much finer than the St. John's River 
fruit." 

"Do you ever send them to market':'" I asked. 



302 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

"I tried it once, some years ago; I sent a few boxes to 
Jacksonville and when the merchant sent my account of sales, 
he brought me in debt seventy-five cents. Since then I find 
it better to eat them." 

"I see," said I, "the weeds are beat down along the bank; 
are there any cattle on these marshes.?" 

"That's done by alligators — there's a big one lives about 
here, and I've tried to shoot him, for he eat up one of my 
best dogs, but the cunning brute hides away when he hears 
or sees a boat." 

Just then the major, who had left his line in the water, saw 
it running off, and found a heavy fish hooked, which did not 
run like a Bass but fought near the bottom and seemed hard 
to move. 

"That is a Rock Grouper," said P. ; "we often find them in 
this hole." After about five minutes hard pulling, which 
tried the rod severely, the fish was brought to the surface 
and gaffed — a thick-set fish, brown with light-colored spots, 
and small scales — weighing six or seven pounds. "Just as I 
thought, a Rock Grouper; a good fish it is; I have taken 
them in summer weighing twenty-five pounds." 

As the tide had turned, we concluded to drop down with 
it, homeward; when we reached the shallow pool at the 
island, the major let out a spoon with thirty yards of line. 

"You might catch a Bass or Trout that way," said P., "but 
you are likely to hook a Shark, and lose your spoon." 
As we left the pool through a narrow channel with a swift 
current, the major had a strike, and reeled in a handsome 
spotted fish of two pounds or so, which P. told him was a 
Trout. 

"It certainly looks like the Lake Trout of the Adiron 
dacks," said the major; "but how does he come in the salt- 
water.'" 

"The fish is not a Trout," said I, "but a cousin of the 
northern Weak-fish, and ^lot related to the Salmon; you see, 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 303 

it has no adipose fin. It is a good fish to eat, Salmon or 
not." 

Now the major had another strike from a large fish which 
took a turn, and the line came in without the spoon. "That 
was a small Shark. I saw him when he bit off your spoon," 
said P. 

"Do they always do that.^" 

"No, we sometimes save them — that is, if the hook is so 
fixed that they can't get hold with their teeth; but I have 
no use for Sharks, and am glad to let them go — except 
when we go a Sharking, and then I take a big hook with a 
chain, with a strong rope." 

When we reached the main river, P. stopped on the west 
bank. "Perhaps you might pick up a Bass or two here, 
judge." 

The tide was running out strongly, and we anchored about 
fifty feet from the marsh, and cast toward it. The major 
got the first fish — a five-pound Bass; and I soon got hold of 
a strong fish, which proved to be a five-pound Trout, which 
I boated after a few minutes play. 

"Isn't that a beauty," said P., as he held it up admir- 
ingly. Next, the major caught a three-pound Cat-fish — a 
nasty slimy creature. 

"Come, major," said I; "it's time to quit, if you are going 
to catch Cat-fish — and in the words of Father Isaac, 'We 
have had a most pleasant day for fishing and talking, and 
are returned home both weary and hungry, and now meat 
and rest will be pleasant.'" 

THE sheep's-head. 

Sargus Oi'is, CUVIER. Ardiosargus Probatocepha/us, GILL; Diplodus Probato- 
cephalus, goode. 

This popular fish is, it will be perceived, well equipped 
with scientific names; all, however, significant of its sheep- 
like profile and teeth. The name given by Cuvier, Sargus, 



304 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

says Prof. Goode, indicates its size and value; and Diplodus^ 
used by others, meaning "double-toothed." The Sheep's-head 
is one of the few species which goes by the same name, 
wherever known, from Jamaica Bay to Cape Florida. The 
Florida people, however, omit the s, calling it the "Sheep- 
head." The ancients had a Sargus, to which Walton alludes, 
quoting his favorite Du Bartus, in a curious legend which 
attributes to the fish certain disreputable habits, unknown 
to our quiet Sheep's-head. This species is supposed to be 
hatched and bred in southern waters, mainly on both coasts 
of Florida, where the spawn is deposited at the mouth of 
rivers and inlets, in March and April, in the shallow water 
near the shore, where both sexes may be seen sporting on 
the sand-bars. At this time they become thin and unfit for 
food, and will take a Mullet bait, which, when in condition 
for the table, they reject. In summer they make a northern 
migration, as far as New York, and grow large and fat upon 
the mollusks and Crustacea, being taken up to fifteen pounds 
weight, and are considered a great luxury, bringing high prices. 
In 1 8 14, Dr. Mitchell wrote that "the Sheep's-head contin- 
ued about New York from June to September, and was then 
abundant, so that hundreds have been taken at one haul of 
the seine in Jamaica Bay and Fire Island. They were highly 
colored, and the capture of one with a hook and line was 
considered the most desirable combination of luck and skill. 
He knew an ancient fisherman who used to record in 
a book the time, place, and circumstances of every Sheep's- 
head he caught." This high estimate continues, but the 
record of captures in New York waters would require few 
pages now. The farther south you go the more abundant 
the Sheep's-head become, though they nowhere take the hook 
freely till air and water are warm. In the St. John's River 
in Florida they will be found all the year, though during the 
prevalence of a "norther " few can be taken, as they run at 
these times into deep water. 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



305 




306 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

On the coasts of Florida, this is so abundant a species as 
to be rather undervalued. Anglers when they first arrive, 
engage in the pursuit of Sheep's-head with great eagerness, 
but after a time it becomes monotonous to catch them at the 
rate of forty or fifty in a tide, averaging three pounds each. 
Many go to five and six pounds. My heaviest weighed seven 
pounds, from many hundreds; and I have heard of one of ten 
pounds; many aie taken of four to eight ounces, which are 
returned to the water, fish being so abundant in Florida 
that the "fish hog" seldom appears. 

I knew a man who caught Sheep's-head for market, and 
with a hand-lirje, and the barb filed off the hook. He could 
supply a smack with one hundred a day at five cents apiece. 
But the fish died in the well of the smack, and the enter- 
prise was a failure. Although some Sheep's-head migrate, 
and some run up the rivers into fresh water, yet it is usually 
a stationary species, living in deep channels and tide-ways 
along the shores of the bays and inlets, among rocks and the 
roots of mangroves, and other trees that have fallen into the 
water, as these are soon covered with barnacles, upon which 
these fish feed, as well as upon crabs, clams, and oysters. 
Especially the small crab called the fiddler, which is a fa- 
vorite bait, but it is easily taken off the hook by the project- 
ing teeth of this fish. In places where much fishing is done, 
the Sheep's-head become very expert in stealing bait, and if 
you secure one out of four baits you do well. Where little 
disturbed, they seize the hook eagerly, and are easily taken 
by a stroke vigorous enough to penetrate the hard pavement 
of teeth which they carry. Their jaws are strong, and the 
hook must be equally so, and if large, it is necessary to give 
your fish line, till it is somewhat exhausted. When it is 
brought to the surface, it makes a violent rush to the bottom, 
and if too suddenly checked, hook, line, or rod is apt to be 
broken. It makes no long runs, like a Bass, but fights up 
and down, with heavy surges. A good-sized landing-net will 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 30/ 

prevent the loss of many fish, in boating them, and the 
novice had better beware of the sharp and strong fin-rays, 
and let his boatman unhook the fish. 

As to its table qualities, it is among the best of sea-fishes, 
firm, rich, and well flavored; either boiled, if large, or fried' 
if small. It lives upon crabs and mollusks, which is the food 
of our choicest fishes — like the Pompano of the salt-water, 
and the White-fish of the Great Lakes. During the spawn- 
ing season, the Sheep's-head becomes unfit for food; this is in 
the spring months, when it is usually taken by northern 
anglers, who at once declare the southern fish to be inferior 
to those of the North. When taken in the fall or winter, 
there is little difference in quality. The Sheep's-head is also 
known to feed upon salt grass, and other vegetable matter 
along the flats. The natives usually fish with a hand-line, 
and drag in the fish by main strength; more can be taken in 
this way in a given time, but the only sporting method is 
with rod and reel. 

The bottom being generally foul, many hooks and sinkers are 
lost, so that a good supply should be taken along. A taut 
line should be kept, for the bite of this fish is usually very 
light, and you will find the bait often gone without notice 
given; so raise the hooks often, and you catch the fish in 
the act of robbing you. 

If feeding at all, the Sheep's-head will take a fiddler; next in 
value is a large crab, cut in pieces; then the hard-shell clam, 
like those in northern waters, but larger. At half-tide, either 
flood or ebb, these fish bite most freely; at slack water they 
often stop feeding. 

It must not be supposed that even in Florida waters 
Sheep's-head can be taken abundantly every day. In cold 
raw weather, better smoke the pipe of peace by the fireside. 
On such days if mine host of Ponce Park wants a mess of 
fish, he goes with his cast-net to some deep hole in the 
river, and with one throw he gets a back load. At the Hal- 



308 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ifax River Inlet, at New Smyrna, and at the Indian River 
Inlet, the angler will usually find all the Sheep's-head he 
wants; doubtless in other places also, but these can be 
recommended. 

In Jordan and Gilbert's Synopsis, the following description 
is given: 

sheep's-head DIPLODUS PROBATOCEPHALUS (WALT. ) 

Grayish, with about eight vertical black bands, which are 
about as broad as the interspaces; dorsal dusky. Body robust, 
becoming very deep with age; the back compressed and ele- 
vated; axis of the body below the middle of the depth; snout 
entirely below axis of body; profile very steep; preorbital 
broad. Mouth low, horizontal; incisors broad, serrated in the 
young, then becoming emarginate and finally entire. Cheeks 
with six rows of scales; scales on breast very small, crowded. 
Dorsal spines very strong, higher than the soft rays, the 
last considerably shortened, so that the outline of the fin is 
emarginate; second anal spine very strong, nearly as long as 
the snout and eye; pectoral very long, reaching past the front 
of the anal; ventrals reaching vent. Head 3^; depth i^. 
D XII, 12; A. Ill, 10; Scales 7 — 45—16, L. 30 inches. 
Cape Cod to Texas ; abundant. 

The same rig that is used for Channel Bass — a two-piece 
bamboo rod, eight feet long, multiplying reel with drag, 
and one hundred yards of Cuttyhunk line, 15-thread. In 
Florida-fishing, the unexpected often happens, and while look- 
ing for a four-pound Sheep's-head, you may hook a twenty- 
five pound Bass or other runaway fish. Some anglers put the 
sinker at the end of the line, and tie the hooks eight or ten 
inches above. Others use round perforated sinkers, with 
the hooks below; the sinker, from one to two ounces in 
weight, lies on the bottom. 

Only the best Virginia hooks can be trusted to resist the 
jaws of the Sheep's-head (No. 4 or 5) and these sometimes 
fail. A piece of hemp or cotton line rather thicker than the 
reel-line makes the best snood; no gut, however strong or 
doubled, will resist the teeth of the Sheep's-head. With two 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



309 




3 TO AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

hooks, about eight or ten inches apart, the angler may often 
hang a pair, when, in the words of Dame Berners, "surely 
thenne is there noo man merrier than he is in his spyryte." 

THE GROUPER — EPINEPHELUS MORIO (CUV. , GILL). 

I give to this well-known and valuable food-fish of the 
Florida coast, the name affixed to it by scientists, as I sup- 
pose, though the synonomy of the genus is much confused, 
and the name, to be adopted, uncertain. The description 
given by Jordan and Gilbert, of E. niorio, seems more like 
the common Grouper than any other which they describe. 
Holbrook, in his"Fishes of S. Carolina," describes what I 
take to be the same species, under the name of Serramts 
erythrogaster. The name Grouper is found in Roman's list 
of the fishes of the East Florida coast. How far north it 
occurs I do not know, but it is abundant and large in the 
West Indies, as I am informed. It is a thick-set, robust fish, 
of the Perch family, with hard spines in the dorsal fin; large 
head and mouth, with sharp teeth. Color, light olive, mot- 
tled with darker lines, like tortoise shell. Fins tipped with 
blue; inside of mouth red. 

The Grouper is found near the bottom, in deep holes and 
channels, near the roots of mangrove trees, under which it 
makes its stronghold. It is never found far from this for- 
tress, to which it retreats when hooked or alarmed. The 
bait is Mullet, either cut or whole, the latter attracting the 
larger specimens. In size it is taken from half a pound to 
fifteen pounds, seldom with the net. It is voracious, but 
shy and easily alarmed; and after one has escaped from the 
hook, or after the capture of two or three, the others seem to 
take fright, and will seldom take a bait in that place for 
some days. When hooked, it makes straight for its hole, 
and can only by main force be kept from it; so that only 
those of moderate size are taken with rod and reel — say up 
to five or six pounds weight. The larger ones can only be 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



311 




312 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

landed with a hand-line. It is a trial of strength between 
the man and his tackle and the fish — the latter, if of large 
size, often breaking loose, or gaining its hole under the roots 
from whence it cannot easily be dislodged, the result being 
the loss of tackle and patience. The rod-fisher loses more 
than half the Groupers he hooks. I have never been able to 
kill, on a rod, a Grouper over five pounds. Other rod-fishers 
have perhaps been more fortunate or skillful. As is well 
known to anglers, the first rush of a strong and heavy fish 
cannot safely be resisted, and the Grouper makes only one. 
If he would fight in open water, like the Bass, he could be 
tired out; but he takes all the advantage, and one seldom 
gets more than two or three in a day. 

The flesh of the Grouper is rich and well-flavored, and is 
highly prized, perhaps partly on account of the scarcity of 
the fish, and difficulty of its capture. To my taste it much 
resembles that of the Red Bass, when in good condition. 

JORDAN AND GILBERT'S DESCRIPTION. 

Red Grouper — Epijiephelus inorio (Cuv., Gill), brownish, mar- 
bled with ash; Salmon-color below; soft parts of the vertical 
fins margined with blue. Body oval, compressed above; profile 
oblique, gently curved; mouth terminal, large, somewhat 
oblique; maxillary reaching beyond eye; eye about as long as 
snout. Head 2>4; depth 3. D. XI, 17; A. Ill, 9; Lat. I 
106; caeca 28. Atlantic Coast, chiefly southward. 

THE MANGROVE SNAPPER LUTJ ANUS AURORUBENS (CUV. , GILL). 

Professor Jordan's description suits our South Florida fish, 
except as to canine, in which respect our fish resembles 
L. caxis, which has canines in the upper jaw. The 
generic name, according to Jordan and Gilbert, comes from 
"Lutjany," the Japanese name of some of the species 
which are numerous in tropical seas. I find the name 
"Mangrove Snapper " in Roman's list, and it is signifi- 
cant, as this species lives in holes among the roots of 
that tree. Jordan places it in the same genus with the Red 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



313 




314 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Snapper, L. blackfordi, which is an ocean species of quite 
different habits. Like the Grouper, the Mangrove Snapper 
is stationary, seldom found far from its hole, in which it 
takes refuge when alarmed. It is one of the most shy and 
cunning fishes of the coast, and long casts from the boat are 
necessary to beguile it. It makes for the roots as soon as 
hooked, after the manner of the Grouper, and is a more 
active fighter, though perhaps not stronger, than that fish. 
Probably fine tackle would be more successful than the 
coarse hand-lines generally used, but the Snapper has very 
sharp teeth, and silk-worm gut would stand no chance. Cut 
Mullet is the bait commonly used, cast as far as possible 
from the boat into the deep channels near the mangroves. 
Let the bait rest quietly on the bottom for five or ten minutes, 
and as soon as the bite is felt get the fish away from the 
bank, or he will be lost. In form the Mangrove Snapper 
resembles the Small-mouthed Black Bass. Color, a reddish 
brown, with golden reflections. Canines long, with which it 
snaps savagely when captured. Eye very large and bright, 
with golden-colored iris. Head small, with wide mouth, 
well filled with teeth. Half of dorsal fin with hard spines; 
scales large. The large eyes seem to indicate nocturnal 
habits, confirmed by the fact, that the Snapper feeds more 
freely at night, and on dark days. The fishermen say that 
when placed in a car with other fish, the Snapper will mangle 
and devour them. The young, say of a pound weight, are 
often in considerable numbers in deep holes, and are taken 
with the cast-net. Size, in Halifax River, from half a pound 
to five pounds. In the Indian River they have been taken 
of ten pounds weight. A fish of good quality on the table, 
and keeps well. 

JORDAN AND GILBERT'S DESCRIPTION. 

Lutjanus aurorubens (Cuv. &- Fa/.). Centropistes aurorubens 
{S/orer). Rhomboplites aurorubens {Goode and Bean). 
"Vermilion red above, rosy belowj sides with oblong irreg- 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 315 

ular yellow spots; dorsal and pectoral fins red; ventrals and 
anal lighter. Body oblong elliptical, moderately compressed, 
not elevated. Mouth moderate, without distinct canines. 
Tongue with a large oval patch of teeth, besides which are 
five or six smaller patches. Nostrils round, near together. 
Preopercle finely serrate, its notch obsolete. Gill-rakers very 
long and slender. Dorsal spines rather slender; second anal 
spine a little longer than the third; caudal fin lunate, its lobes 
not attenuate. Head 3>^ ; depth 3. D. XII, 11; A. Ill,; 
Lat. I, 54. L. one foot. West Indies, north to Florida and 
S. Carolina." 

sheep's-heads, groupers, and MANGROVE SNAPPERS. 
" There where the affluent current pours 
The deepest o'er its muddy floors. 
The greedy sheep's-head hidden lie, 
To seize whatever may float by." 

— Isaac McLellan, "Poems of the Rod and Gun." 

At breakfast: the next morning we met with a new-comer, 
Dr. Williams, a professor in a Western College, a tall slender 
man of some thirty years old, with dark complexion, hair, 
and eyes. He had come to Florida for health and sport, 
and also to make collections in natural history. "What fish 
are these?" he inquired of our host. 

"That is Channel Bass you have on your plate. The 
judge, here, caught it yesterday, a fine, fat fish." 

Judge: "Let me recommend a squeeze of this lemon on 
the fish, doctor; the fish and the sauce are both natives." 

Professor: "An improvement, certainly. How large was 
this fish.?" 

Host: "Twenty-five pounds, or so." 

Professor: "Did you catch it with the rod I saw on the 
piazza, judge.''" 

"The same." 

Professor: "Well. I want to try this fishing that I hear so 
much about, but I fear that my tackle will not answer; my 
rod never killed a fish over two pounds." 

Host: "Perhaps you had better begin with a hand-line; I 
can fit you out." 



3l6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Professor: "All right, I will do so. Do these oysters 
grow in this river.^" 

Host: "Yes, sir; we get them close by the house; but 
better ones grow in the other river." 

Professor: "What river is that.?" 

Host: "The Hillsboro' — across the Inlet, about two miles 
south of here." 

Judge: "Mr. Pacetti, as our friend here would like to go 
out to-day, perhaps he had better go with us, and the major 
can go in another boat with one of your sons." 

Host: "Yes, that will do. Burt has another boat. I 
want to take you toward the Inlet to-day; we will fish on 
this shore till the tide slacks, and then cross to the mouth of 
the big creek, where there is a plenty of good fish." 

Professor: "What kind of fish.'" 

Host: "Sheep's-head, Grouper, Snapper and Bass, per- 
haps." 

Burt: "Sharks, too, father, and Stingarees." 

Host: "No doubt; but these gentlemen from the North all 
want big fish, you know." 

Major: "Me too; I want to catch a Shark." 

Host: "Perhaps the Shark may catch you." 

Major: "All right; I hear a great deal about Sharks, and I 
want to see one." 

So, as arranged, we went down the river against the tide 
in two boats. Two hundred yards below the house we 
anchored near the bank in some fifteen feet of water; the 
bank was about ten feet high, and covered with live oaks and 
palmettos. One big tree was lying in the water, and near this 
we anchored. We had a few fiddlers for bait, this being a 
Sheep's-head ground. The professor's hooks were first 
baited by P., who threw them into the channel. 

"Draw your line taut after the lead touches bottom, and 
watch for a nibble," said he. 

I cast thirty feet astern. - The tide was strong and took 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



317 




3l8 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

my bait some distance before it reached the bottom. As 
I raised my sinker, I felt a nibble, and hooked the fish, which 
was a good one, and made several short runs and surges 
before I got him near the boat, then he went for the bottom 
so strongly that six inches of my rod tip went under. When 
I got him alongside so that the net was put under him, he 
was found to be a four-pounder in good condition. 

As P. unhooked the Sheep's-head, he said: "I reckon, 
professor, they have got your bait." And so it proved. 

"Why, I felt nothing," said he. 

"The fish in this channel are well posted, "said P.; "they 
know how to steal bait." 

Again and again the professor put out his line, and again 
his bait was taken. In the meantime I boated another of 
three pounds, and lost another by the breaking of a hook. 
Presently the professor managed to save a two-pound 
Sheep's-head, and then another. We got ten here, when our 
bait gave out and we went down the river. A hundred yards 
below where we fished, the high bank drops to a low sandy 
flat, which extends south half a mile to the Inlet; this flat 
shore extends a quarter of a mile east, to the ocean. We 
left this shore and struck across the river west through a mile 
of shallows and sand-bars, with narrow channels between 
them. On these sand-banks were flocks of wading birds, 
willets, plover, yellow-legs, oyster-catchers, and gulls, and 
on the bank of the Inlet sat a great flock of brown pelicans, 
apparently asleep, their great bills and pouches resting on 
the sand. 

"I must come here with my gun," said the professor; "I 
want some of those birds for our museum." 

The other boat was following us, and hailed: "How many 
fish, judge.^" 

"About a dozen — and you.'" 

"Only three Sheep's-head." 

As we approached the west shore, we found it to be a low 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 319 

region, with many creeks and islands, some of them wooded 
with pines and palmettos — others low, and covered with 
mangroves. A perfect solitude prevailed everywhere. We 
headed for the largest creek, which was about a hundred 
yards wide at the mouth, part very shallow, " with a deep 
channel on the south side, in which we anchored near the 
mouth of the creek. 

"I will go ashore and get some fiddlers." said the skipper. 

We both landed with him, and passing through a belt of 
mangroves we came to a low sandy flat thinly covered with 
marsh grass, where hundreds of these little crabs which go 
by the name of fiddlers, called by the learned, Gclasimus 
ptigilator, were running to and fro. They scampered for 
their holes as we approached, but we soon picked up a quart 
or two of them, not without some pinches from the big claw 
which they brandished at us. ' Then we returned to the boat 
and began to fish for Sheep's-head. We found that here they 
were larger and bit more eagerly than at the other bank- 
probably because they were not much fished for here. The 
fun was fast and furious for half an hour, in which time we 
had taken twenty, averaging four pounds; then at slack 
water, they stopped biting. The other boat was near us, 
and had good sport also. 

"Try a Mullet bait, judge," said the skipper; "5'ou might 
get a Grouper." 

I baited with Mullet, and cast up the channel as far as 
possible, and near the bank. Then the professor put on a 
pair of small hooks with Mullet bait to try for some small 
fish. Soon he had specimens of "Sailor's choice," Whiting, 
Black-fish, Pig-fish, and a young Blue-fish, about six inches 
long. "These I want for specimens for my museum," said 
he, "and here is another odd fish" — as he pulled up a vicious- 
looking creature. 

"That is a Toad-fish," said the skipper; "look out for his 
teeth!" My bait had been out ten minutes or so, when I 



320 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

had a vigorous snatch at it, and hooked a stout and active 
fish, which made for its hole. By main strength I got it 
into open water, and after five minutes play, I had it along- 
side, when P. put the landing-net under it — a four-pound 
Mangrove-snapper. 

"I want the scientific name of this fish, if you can give it 
to me, professor," said I. 

"When we get home I will examine it with the help of 
Jordan's book." 

"Oh! professor, do you see that fish-hawk.^ He has just 
caught a Mullet; now there is an eagle on the dead pine on 
yonder island that's watching the hawk, and you will see the 
rascal rob the poor hawk directly." 

The osprey caught his fish, and was flying away with it, 
when the eagle sailed from his perch in pursuit. When the 
osprey found itself overtaken, it uttered a scream and dropped 
the fish, and the eagle stooped and caught it before it struck 
the water. The osprey went off to look for another Mullet. 

"There," said the professor, "is what the books have been 
telling us from the time of Doctor Franklin, but eagles are 
scarce at the north and we seldom see that robbery; here it 
can be seen every day." 

"Do the eagles themselves ever dive for fish.?" 

P.: "Not often; they make the fish-hawks do that work; 
though when I catch Mullet in the fall for salting, and have 
a big pile of them on the beach, the eagles will come and 
steal them." 

Judge: "How did this eagle get its common name of bald 
eagle.? its head is as well covered as yours, professor, though 
much whiter." 

Professor: "I suppose that some early observer seeing the 
white head from afar, took it for a bald head, and so reported 
it. An error, once started, has great vitality, and the news- 
paper writers, many of whom perhaps never saw an eagle, 
kept on calling it bald. Naturalists however, have named it 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 321 

properly, calling this species the white-headed eagle — 
Halictus leucoccphalns. " 

Judge: "The fish have stopped biting, Pacetti." 

P : "Some Shark or other big fish around the boat, I 
reckon." 

Professor: "My hook seems to be fastened to the bottom; 
please try to loose it for me." 

P.: "You are fast to a big fish; I can't move it. Now it 
starts — it's powerful strong. I know what it is — a Nurse- 
Shark," and with much difficulty he began to drag it up. It 
was a heavy pull of a dead weight, but he got it up so that 
with a gaff hook it was got alongside. A thick-set, light 
brown fish, about seven feet long and a foot through, came 
slowly up. It resembled a Shark in outline but did not fight 
like a Shark. 

"I will have to cut off the hook; it's too far inside to med- 
dle with," said Pacetti, "the teeth are small, but it could 
cut my hand off." 

Professor: "I would like to save that fish, and take his 
skin home with me." 

P. : "Then I will kill it, and we will leave it here on the 
bank till we go home." 

So we hauled it ashore and killed it by blows on the head 
with a club. 

"Now we had better take lunch," said P., "it's nearly 
noon. Ham, bread and butter, pie, and oranges; take hold, 
judge. Here is something I want you to try, gentlemen — 
Mullet roe, smoked; I put it up every year for my own 
use." 

Judge: "And a very good relish it is — the Mullet must be 
larger than those you catch for bait." 

P. : "In the fall we get them to weigh three or four pounds." 

While we lunched, my line had been in the water, and 
now I saw it moving; before I could get hold of the rod, the 
fish, probably a Grouper, had reached its stronghold under 

21 



322 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the snags, and 'as I could not get it out, I was obliged to 
break my line, losing hook and sinker. I put on another 
hook, and put the bait near the same place, and in a few 
minutes I hooked another Grouper of over four pounds, which 
with some difficulty I boated. The tide having now turned, 
we dropped down with it, and crossed the sand flats, then 
anchored near the channel which led to the Inlet. 

"What sail boat is that coming across the Inlet .^" 

"One of the Smyrna boats bound up to Daytona," said P. 

We were anchored in about six feet of water and cast our 
baits into the channel. Soon I had a strike, and the line 
ran out thirty yards, and a good-sized Bass showed himself on 
the surface. As I was playing it, suddenly the pull became 
very heavy, and a big surge appeared on the water. "A Shark 
has got your Bass," cried Pacetti, and my line came in with 
half of a good sized Bass on the hook. "Bit it off, as if cut 
with an ax," said P. "now I will have satisfaction out of that 
Shark," and he took a heavy line with a big hook and chain, 
from a locker, and baited with the head and shoulders of the 
Bass, which he cast out in the channel. There was a bare 
sand-bank near by, and there we landed and drove a stout 
stake into the sand, and made the line fast to it. In about 
ten minutes P. began to haul in the line; as the bait came in 
sight we saw a large Shark following it, and when it came 
within ten feet of the bank, it was seized and taken away. 
Thea P. gave a smart pull. "He is hooked! lay hold, boys 
- — and rouse him out on the bank." Easier said than done, 
for the Shark, turning, dragged the three of us to the water's 
edge, and we had to trust to the stake, which, however, held, 
and after some heavy drags at it, we again laid hold and 
succeeded in hauling the Shark ashore. "Look out for his 
tail," said Pacetti, as he pounded the head of the fish. 
It was eight or nine feet long, and showed a fearful set of 
teeth. 

"Can I take this one too.'" asked the professor. 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 323 

P.: "lean catch one for you at the landing, most anytime, 
and save the trouble of carrying it home." 

"All right." 

Judge: "I noticed when that Shark followed the bait, 
that he took hold like any other fish. Now I often read 
about a Shark being obliged to turn over on his back before 
he can take hold. How is that, Pacetti.'" 

P. : "Well, as far as I know, they take hold like other^fish, 
and I have caught hundreds of them." 

Judge: "Probably this is another of those popular errors, 
copied by one ignorant writer from another of the same kind, 
like the bald-eagle business, professor." 

Professor: "I am glad to have seen, myself, how a Shark 
takes a bait." 

We fished again in the channel, and got, in the course of 
half an hour, four Bass, weighing eight, six, five, and five 
pounds, and then left for home. As we went up the river, 
P. , whose eyes were good, espied a rattlesnake swimming 
across to the peninsula, and started to cut it off. The snake 
swam strongly, with head well out of water, and when it 
found its retreat cut off, it turned and made for the boat. 
"\A^hy," said the professor, "it is coming on board, I believe." 
As it came near, looking warlike and formidable, P. caught 
it a heavy blow with the oar, which disabled it, and it sank. 
"I never let one pass," said he; "they have killed too many 
of my dogs." 

"I did not know that a rattlesnake could swim across a 
wide river like this," said the professor. , 

P.: "Oh yes, they do it; they used to be very plenty in 
this country, but it is settling up too fast now for them to 
increase much. Last summer a big one, seven feet long, was 
killed in my door-yard by a gopher-snake." 

Judge: "What kind of a snake is that.'" 

P.: "It's a big black snake, seven or eight feet long, that 
makes war on rattlesnakes and moccasins — kills them every 



324 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

time, and eats them — but he always bites off the head where 
the 'pizen' is; he never eats that. A rattlesnake is mighty 
afraid of a gopher-snake, so I use to encourage them to stay 
about my place; and they are great rat-killers too. But 
after a while they got to eating up our chickens, so I had to 
drive them away — but I never kill one." 

The steamer that plies between the two rivers now came 
in sight, bringing passengers from Daytona and Ormond. 
She stopped at the lignt-house wharf, just below our house, 
to land passengers. 

"There's more fishermen for ourplace," said P.; "Daytona 
men, I reckon. Well, we have got fish enough to feed them, 
anyway." 

SALT-WATER TROUT OR SOUTHERN WEAK-FISH CYNOSCION 

CAROLINENSIS (GILL). 

This species is allied to the Weak-fish or Squeteague of 
the northern coast, but is a handsomer and better fish. 
Color, silvery sides, darker above, with rows of black spots 
above the lateral line. Body silvery. Head small, mouth 
large, and well supplied with sharp teeth; in form and color 
much resembling the Lake-trout of Northern New York, but 
wanting the adipose fin. Predacious in habits, takes Mullet- 
bait eagerly, fights hard on the hook, and gives good sport 
with rod and reel, though rather less enduring than the Red 
Bass. This fish does not well bear keeping, but eaten fresh 
from the water is sweet and well-flavored. It is largest and 
most abundant in warm weather, when it may be heard on a 
still night snapping along the shore in pursuit of small fish. 
I have taken them from two pounds to six in weight, at 
Halifax Inlet, in winter. Very large specimens are taken in 
Musquito Lagoon, south of New Smyrna, weighing, it is said, 
as much as twenty pounds. 

It takes bait on the bottom, at mid-water, and on the sur- 
face, and I have killed them in fresh water, while trolling 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



325 




326 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

for Black Bass in Spruce Brook, a tributary of the Halifax. 
These were of small size, about two pounds, and were taken 
with a spoon; and it is said that they can be taken with a 
fly. It is a roving fish, and is taken on the same grounds as 
the Bass, preferring, however, tide- ways and rapid currents; 
the same tackle will serve that is made for Bass. In the 
Halifax River it is not abundant. One seldom takes more 
than four or five in a day's fishing. On the Gulf coast it 
would seem to be plenty, as "Al Fresco" writes of taking 383 
pounds of them in one forenoon. Cut-Mullet is the usual bait, 
though no doubt live minnows would prove more attract- 
ive — probably also to Sharks, which abound in these waters, 
and take away the angler's tackle, and his fish also. One 
great pleasure in angling in these waters is the variety of 
fishes encountered; you never can tell whether your next fish 
will weigh one pound or twenty. 

JORDAN AND GILBERT'S DESCRIPTION. 

Spotted Sea-trout. — Cynoscion maculatum (Mitchell, Gill). 
Bright silvery, darker above; back posteriorly with numerous 
round black spots as large as the pupil; both dorsal and caudal 
fins marked with similar somewhat smaller spots, much as in 
a Trout and dusky maxillary reaching to posterior edge of 
eye; canines moderate. Longest dorsal spine not quite half 
the length of the head; pectorals short, not reaching tips of 
ventrals, not half-length of head; caudal lunate. Head 3^, 
depth 5, eye large, about six-inch head. D. X. I., 25; A, 
I, 10; Lat. I, about 90. Virginia to Mexico, very abundant 
southward." 

THE CAVALLI OR CREVALLE— CARANX HIPPUS (GUNTHER). 

I am unable to decide to which of the species of Caranx 
that frequent our Southern coast the Cavalli belongs, but 
probably it is C. hippns. It is a fish which affords good 
sport to the angler, but is of only moderate quality on the 
table, the flesh being somewhat oily, with black streaks, 
like that of the Mackerel. 

In form the Cavalli is deep and compressed, with a long 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



327 




5|fi*^*^'^ 



''^"^^i^ 



328 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

double dorsal fin extending to the tail, which is deeply forked. 
The colors change rapidly after the fish is taken from the 
water, green, yellow, and silvery, predominating. Eyes large, 
mouth ditto, with sharp conical teeth. Grows to the weight 
of twelve or fifteen pounds, averaging perhaps three in the 
spring run. It is very strong and active, fighting to the last 
on the hook, and dying as soon as taken. Very voracious, 
taking all sorts of bait, on the bottom, at midwater, or on 
the surface — cut-Mullet being commonly used. I have taken 
it with a trolling spoon, and others have taken it with a fly. 
A Cavalli of four or five pounds must be carefully handled 
on a rod, as its movements are rapid and unexpected — leap- 
ing out of the water, running under the boat, and conduct- 
ing itself in the gamest fashion, so that many escape. 

The Cavalli usually appears at Mosquito Inlet in April, or 
earlier if the water is warm, in large schools, and is discov- 
ered by the commotion which it causes among the small fry, 
especially Mullet, which it hunts and devours incessantly, 
often driving them on shore. In the Indian River it is found 
all winter. Spawns in May, in the ocean. 

Says Professor Goode: "The name of this fish is usually 
written and printed, 'Crevalli, ' but the form in common use 
among the fishermen of the south, 'Cavally,' is nearer to the 
Spanish and Portuguese names, Caballa and Cavalla, mean- 
ing 'horse.' It should be remembered that in South Caro- 
lina the name Crevalli is most generally applied to quite 
another fish — the Pompano." 

JORDAN AND GILBERT'S DESCRIPTION. 

Crevalli, Horse Crevalli — Caranx hippos (Gnnihex). Oliva- 
ceous above; sides and below, silvery golden; a distinct 
black blotch on opercle, and one on lower rays of pectorals, 
the latter sometimes wanting; axil of pectoral dusky; anterior 
edge of dorsals black; upper edge of caudal peduncle dusky. 
Body oblong, the anterior profile very strongly arched. Head 
large and deep. Mouth large, low, and nearly horizontal 
below axis of body; lower jaw included maxillary extending 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



i29 




330 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



to nearly opposite posterior border of eye. Teeth in upper 
jaw in a broad villiform band; an outer series of large, wide-set 
conical teeth. Teeth of lower jaw in one row, a distinct canine 
on each side of symphysis; villiform teeth on vomer; pala- 
tines and tongue. Lateral line with a wide arch, its length 
three-fourths that of straiglit part; plates not covering all of 
straight part. Dorsal spines short, rather stout; procumbent 
spine obsolete. Gill-rakers stout, not very long, 15 below 
angle. Occipital keel sharp. Eye not very large, longer 
than snout; 4-in. head. 

THE LADY-FISH OR BONE FISH ALBULA VULPES (GOODE), 

ALBULA CONORYHNCHUS (GUNTHER). 

Pectoral falcate, longer than head. Breast naked, with a 
small patch of scales in front of ventrals only. Caudal lobes 
equal. Head 3^; depth 2h', Lat. I. (scutes) about 30. D. 
VIII — I, 20; A. II — I, 17. "Cape Cod to West Indies, 
common southward." 

But a single species known, according to Jordan and Gil- 
bert, and found in all warm seas, and very extensively dis- 
tributed — in the "West Indies, the coasts of North and South 
America, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and on the coast 
of Japan, according to Professor Goode. 

In the Bermudas it is considered good eating, but on the 
Florida coast it seems to be a mass of bones and fat. To 
the angler, however, the Ladyfish affords more sport than 
any other species on the southern coast. 

No sooner is it hooked, than it begins to throw itself from 
the water in successive and lofty leaps, then darting round 
and round the boat, under it and over it, till exhausted, or 
until it escapes by casting out the hook, or cutting the line 
with its sharp labials. The mouth being tender, the hook 
does not take a firm hold, and one-half of the number hooked 
usually escape. I know of no fish which equals it in activity; 
even the Grilse, or the Land-locked Salmon make fewer 
leaps and are less active in play. Like the Caivalli, it makes 
its appearance with the first warm weather, in schools, feed- 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



331 




332 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ing both at the bottom and on the surface and readily takes 
fly or spoon. It preys voraciously on Mullet, Menhaden and 
other small fishes, often driving them on shore. It is a 
slender and handsomely formed fish, built for speed, with a 
high dorsal fin, and deeply forked tail. Weight from two to 
four pounds, but pulls like a six-pounder. 

Description of Lady-fish — Albula Vidpcs (Goode), — [from a 
freshly-caught specimen.] Body slender and cylindrical. 
Head one-fifth the whole length. Eyes very large, fins yel- 
low. Mouth large, teeth small; labials long and large, with 
fine teeth on edges. Scales small. Fins all soft-rayed, dorsal 
high, in middle of back; i8; pectoral i6; anal lo; tail deeply 
forked. Color of head greenish, back dark blue, sides and 
belly silvery. Length one to three feet. 

FLY-FISHING IN SALT-WATER. 
" The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish 
Cut with their golden oars the silver stream, 
And greedily devour the treacherous bait." 

— Shakespeare. 

Which seems to mean fly-fishing, and as the poet lived 
near the "Soft-flowing Avon," he probably was an angler. 
In fact there are many passages in his plays to show his 
familiarity with the art. 

But to return to Mosquito Inlet. As the season advanced 
the weather grew warmer, and some of the southern fishes 
were seen feeding upon the Mullet. The Cavalli and Lady- 
fish, and near the Inlet, the Tarpum showed his vast and 
brilliant form on the surface, leaping and rolling in the tide- 
ways. 

So one morning the major and I, with our host, started to 
look after these new-comers. We dropped down with the 
tide, then about three-quarters ebb, and crossed the river to 
the mouth of a large creek about half a mile from the house. 
In the middle, the water was shallow, but on the north side 
the channel was eight or ten feet deep and ran strongly, near 
the bank. Having procured a dozen Mullets with the cast- 
net, we anchored in mid-channel, the tide beginning to set 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



333 



up the creek. I had brought with me a twelve-ounce fly- 
rod, made of greenheart by Scribner, of St. John, with 
which I had killed many heavy Trout in New Brunswick. It 
was a spliced rod about eleven feet long, and carried a click 
reel with fifty yards of silk line, a six-foot leader, and a large 
red-and-white Bass-fly. The major was using one of my chum 
rods, and dropped his hook over the stern. P. sent his big 
hook and half a Mullet well out into the stream, and I cast 
about thirty feet astern, sinking the fly six inches in the 
water, and then drawing it up — this for some time without 
result. Now the major hooks what he supposes to be a Bass, 
but it proves to be one of those active sea Cat-fishes, some- 
times called from its high dorsal fin, "The Gaff-topsail" 

a clean-built, handsome fish, blue and white in color, and 
fighting long and hard on the hook. Like all the Cats, it is 
covered with a nasty slime, which adheres to hands and 
tackle; and it is also armed with sharp and poisonous serrated 
bones in the pectoral fins, which inflict painful wounds on 
the incautious. 

"When these Cats appear, it is a sign of warm weather," 
said P., as he unhooked the fish; then he slashed it open with 
his knife, bringing out a bunch of eggs, in form and color 
like golden grapes; "I always kill them, so that they can't 
bite again," said he. 

Judge: "Is it good eating.'" 

"Well, we don't eat them, we have so many better fish; 
out the meat looks white and nice enough." 

Presently I have a rise, and hook a Salt-water Trout of 
three pounds, which gave very good play for five minutes, 
bending my pliant rod till P. declared it must break; but the 
fish was brought safely to the net. At the next cast I got a 
four-pounder; while playing it, the major was engaged in 
combat with a good Bass, which he boated — a six-pounder. 
"That's the kind I want; no more Cat-fish for me," said he. 
My fish was saved also. 



334 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

The tide was now in full flow, and with it came a school 
of Cavalli, snapping and leaping after a school of Menhaden. 
P. hooked one of about three pounds, and hauled it in 
quickly, after the manner of hand-line fishermen. 

"That's the first Cavalli I have caught this year, judge; 
there's plenty more; you've got one." 

And so I had; it sprang up into the air, ran out twenty 
yards of line, circled round the boat, and cut up many 
capers for a few minutes, but when boated was dead. We 
got three more of about the same size, and the major lost 
one, before the school went by. We could see them for a 
long distance, chasing the Menhaden, and driving them 
ashore, where they were picked up by a flock of gulls, ospreys 
and pelicans. Next came along a school of Lady-fish, also 
hunting the poor Menhaden and Mullets. The first that 
took my fly came out of the water four feet, and three times 
at that; then darted under the boat, and up in the air again, 
shaking out the hook. Both P. and the major were engaged 
in like manner with two silvery harlequins, which seemed to 
stay in the air half the time. As long as the school of fish 
remained near us, we had fine sport and got five or six of 
them, averaging two pounds in weight ; but they soon went 
off up the creek in pursuit of their prey. 

P. : "What do you think of Lady-fish, major.'" 

"I should call them flying-fish, myself." 

Judge: "It is the greatest jumper I ever saw, and I have 
caught some pretty active fish in my time; how is it for eat- 
ing, Pacetti.?" 

"Not good for much — mostly bones." 

Here he found himself fast to a big Sting-ray, from which 
he cut his line loose; and next the major struck a large Bass, 
which proved too much for him, and broke away after a few 
minutes. 

"I saw him, judge," said he; "he was a big one." 

P.: "The one that gets away is always the big one.' 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



335 



v / [ 




33^ AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Major: "To be sure it is; the little ones can't break the 
line." 

I no>v had a twitch at my fly, under water, and struck 
something heavy, and gave it thirty yards of line before it 
stopped — then it returned toward the boat, showing itself 
on the surface. So we had it, back and forth, for about ten 
minutes, giving and taking line, till the Bass showed his red 
sides on the water, and it was reeled in within reach of the 
gaff— a ten-pounder. 

"Pretty well, that, for a fly-rod; I never did think it could 
be done," said Pacetti. "Hullo! there's a turtle," and he 
made a dash over the side of the boat with the landing-net, 
and secured a small green turtle of about six pounds weight. 
"That will make a nice stew; we haven't had one since you 
came, judge." My next fish was a Sea-Cat, which made a 
sturdy fight, worthy of a Bass or a Trout. Then the major 
got a Salt-water Trout of three pounds. 

"What kind of a fish is this," said P. as he tugged labori- 
ously at his line, when presently appeared a formidable 
weapon like a saw, two feet long, striking right and left. 
^'This is the worst fish of all to handle; I do despise a Saw- 
fish," said he, and he cut the line, and the huge fish, some 
six or seven feet long, swam away. "They are worse than 
Sharks or Stingarees, and ruin my nets." 

Judge: "Did you ever get struck by one.'*" 

"I have had them hit mj' boat, and cut big splinters out of 
it. You see they lie on the bottom, in shoal water, and the 
boat is apt to run on them; if you do, then look out for that 
saw." 

Major: "Could a Saw-fish kill a Shark.^" 

"I don't know as to that, but I know that Sharks often 
eat Saw-fish. We find the small saws on the beach, when 
the balance of the fish has been eaten up by something — no 
doubt Sharks — and a piece of Saw-fish is a good bait for a 
Shark." 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 



337 




338 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

We got another Bass, and then took hmch, after which 
P. raised the anchor, and we went up the creek with the tide. 

"I will go home," said he, "by the inside passage, so we 
will have the tide with us." A few hundred yards, and we 
came to a creek running north and south which intersected 
the one we were in. At the point of junction the water 
flowed very deep around a high bank, with some large tree- 
tops above the surface. 

"Now, here is a deep hole where the biggest fish live — 
Groupers and Snappers and Bass," said P. "I often lose 
hooks and lines here— shall we try them.-"' 

We anchored, and the major and P. both dropped their 
baits into the hole; while I made a cast into mid-stream, 
where the tide ran quickl}' over an oyster-bed. 

"Hold him fast!" shouted P., as the major's line ran off — 
"I can't hold him — there — he has got me fast to the bot- 
tom." 

Judge: "Let the hook lie for a while; perhaps the fish will 
loose it." 

Now P. had a heavy bite, and by main force he hauled 
out a Grouper of some five or six pounds. 

"This is the kind of line for Groupers; yours is too light, 
major." And after waiting for some time the major was 
obliged to break his line, the hook being in some hole in the 
rocky bottom. Presently P. hooked another and larger fish, 
too heavy for even his line, for it parted at the hook, 

"I reckon they have got the best of us, major; we might as 
well quit." That must have been a Jew-fish that I got hold 
of; I have caught a twenty-pound Grouper with this line." 

Just then I hooked a two-pound Trout on my fly; and after 
boating it, we left the deep hole, and went northward with 
the tide through many winding ways, among islands so intri- 
cate, that without a good pilot, one would soon be lost, 
This we had, for P. traced his devious course without hesi- 
tation. 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 339 

Major: "These creeks and islands all look alike; how do 
you find your way?" 

"Well, I've been doing it this thirty years, day and night, 
and ought to know the road by this time." 

Judge: "Are we near that Rock House that you told me 
about?" 

P.: "It's not far, and I will stop there if you like." 

After several more turns, we came to a shell-bank landing, 
with a high hamak covered with live oaks and cabbage palms. 
A hundred feet from the creek stood a house — or the four 
walls of one, for roof and doors were gone — the walls were of 
coquina rock, some fifteen feet high, and about twenty by 
thirty feet on the ground. On one side it was shaded by a 
huge live oak, and on the other grew a large fig tree. 

Judge: "So, this is the Rock House — who built it, and 
when?" 

P.: "That is more than I know. Old people who lived 
here forty years ago said that it was here when they were 
born. Captain Dummitt, who came to this country from 
the West Indies fifty years ago, and who lived hereabouts 
many years, used to say that the house was built by some of 
Turnbull's colony, and there was formerly quite a large 
plantation here. This big tree is one of the TurnbuU 
people's trees. Anyway, the house was built by a Catholic, 
for you can see the recess in the wall, where the crucifix 
stood. " 

"And has no one lived in it all this time?" 

"Oh, yes, a number of families have tried to live here. 
One or two repaired the house, and put furniture in it, but 
they could not stay. I don't know why. There's many 
queer stories about the house. There was a young fellow 
here, just after the war, from Chicago, or somewhere out 
West, who used to hunt and fish about here. Well, one night, 
he got caught in a storm in these creeks, and went to the 
house for shelter — but he soon took to the woods and lay 



340 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

out all night. I was in Smyrna the next day when he came 
in — and badly scared he looked. He wouldn't say what 
scared him, but he said he would not go to that house again, 
for all Florida." 

Judge: "You mean to say that the house is haunted.'" 

"So some people say. I don't, for I never saw anything 
strange, myself." 

"Who owns the place, now.'" 

"There's two or three men claim it. One man from the 
West- — St. Louis, I think — was here two years ago, and got 
me to bring him to see it. He said that he bought it with 
about 200 acres of land, of some person in New York, for a 
trifle, but he thought it might be valuable some day; the 
land is very good." 

Judge: "And it is a fine situation for a house, with deep 
water in front, and a fine landing place." 

P.: "Yes, the man that picked it out knew what he was 
doing — and the old Kings road from St. Augustine to Smyrna 
runs throu2:h the hamak." 

Judge: "Now, major, here is a chance for you if you want 
to sleep in the haunted house.'" 

Major: "Much obliged, but I have no curiosity, and prefer 
Mrs. P. 's good beds." 

Judge: "How is it that the Indians did not destroy this 
house, when they ravaged all this country, and burned up 
everything.'" 

P. : "That I don't understand; there was nothing to hinder; 
and they ruined every building on this coast except this one, 
and this they did not touch. Well, gentlemen, if you have 
seen all you want, we will be going." 

The route homeward was through the same wilderness of 
islands and marshes, with no trace of mankind. Many birds 
were flying about, or perched among the mangroves — egrets, 
white herons, blue herons, pelicans, ospreys — while along the 
shores great numbers of the noisy clapper-rail ran in and out 



SEA-BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 341 

among the bushes — and coots and shelldrakes sported in the 
water. In these sohtudes the birds remained safe from the 
murderous cockney gunner from the North, who is always 
wanting to kill something, and has driven away from the great 
frequented routes of travel much of the bird-life formerly 
so abundant. 

SURF-FISHING FOR RED BASS. 

"Off where the slender light-house lifts 
Like sheeted ghost, above the surge, 
Casting its warning flames at night 
Far to the dim horizon's verge; 
There anchored, wrhen the tides are low, 

And first the young flood bubbling flows. 
The fisher far the spinning line 

Deep down with trustful ardor throws." 

— McLellan, '■'Poems of Rod and Gun.'''' 

February twenty-fifth, the weather being warm, and the tide 
serving this morning, we went down the river for a few hours 
fishing in the surf. Leaving our boat where the high bank 
joined the beach, we crossed a wide expanse of sand, bounded 
on the north by dunes fifteen or twenty feet high, on the 
south by the Inlet, and on the east by the ocean beach, level, 
solid, and about lOO yards wide at low water. Above this 
gently-sloping beach the sandy flat was nearly a quarter of a 
mile wide, scattered with sea shells of various kinds, cast 
up by the waves — clams, mussels, conchs, scallops, with egg- 
cases of Sharks, and other sea-fruit; a fleet of the Portu- 
guese man of war, Physalia, stranded on the beach and 
drying in the sun. Here and there, the burrow of a sand 
crab, its owner peeping out; vestiges of wrecks, in the shape 
of water-worn spars and broken planks; sea-beans which 
have floated from West India shores, and occasionally the 
delicate shell of the paper nautilus, or Argonaut — usually 
more or less damaged. One of these shells was once found 
here containing its Hving inhabitant, which is very rare, as 



342 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the creature is not attached to the shell, but uses it as a sort 
of nest, for incubating the eggs, as we learn from late observ- 
ers. Closet naturalists declare that the old account, given 
by poets and others, as to the sailing habits of the nautilus, 
is a fable, but the present writer, having repeatedly seen, 
on the calm surface of tropical seas this navigation in prog- 
ress, believes they were correct, and man might 

"Learn of the little nautilus to sail." 

We put up many sea birds from their nests, slight depres- 
sions in the sand, the eggs so concealed by their color as to 
be almost invisible. There were gulls, terns, shearwaters, 
petrels, and the like. In front was the ocean deeply and 
beautifully blue, with a line of breakers outside the long nar- 
row slough or gully which lay just outside low water-mark. 
It was in this slough that we were to fish, and our guide 
looked carefully along for the Bass. Presently he said he 
could see them, and wading in till the water reached his 
waist he swung the baited hook and the lead around his head, 
and cast it away into the surf. The major followed with a 
hand-line, and I having also waded into the slough cast from 
the reel as far as possible — the water I found to be pleas- 
antly warm; the sun was hot and the wind southerly. It 
was young flood, and the tide rolled the baited line ashore, 
making frequent casts necessary. Our guide, whose casts 
vv^ere longer than ours, got the first Bass — a six-pounder — 
then another before we either of us had a strike. "We must 
make longer casts, major; as far as the line of surf." This 
being done, both of us soon had a fish hooked and in full 
play. I found that the Bass here in open water make a 
longer and fiercer struggle than those in the river, but assisted 
by the incoming waves, we were able to handle them. 
There was quite a large school in the slough, and we got 
seven of them, from four to six pounds in weight. 

"There," said P., "I think we have as many as we want to 
tote across the beach." 



SEA -BASS AND OTHER FISHES. 343 

I was playing a good Bass at the time, and had got it nearly 
to the shore, when a six-foot Shark followed and seized it. 
I pulled and the Shark pulled, thus bringing itself further in, 
when a big wave caught it, and rolled it ashore almost high 
and dry. P. and the major each seized a club from the drift- 
wood and beat the Shark over the head; in spite of its furi- 
ous struggles and vicious blows with the tail, they killed it — 
but my Bass was cut in two. 

A few hundred yards from where we were fishing was the 
wreck of a steamer half-buried in the sand at low water- 
mark, the stump of a mast and part of her smoke-stack above 
the waves. To the wreck we went, and climbed on board. 
Her hold was full of water, washing in and out, and we could 
see large fish swimming about inside. 

Judge: "This looks like an old wreck; when did she come 
ashore.'" 

P. : "I think it was just after the surrender. She brought 
down a load of nigger soldiers to settle at the Inlet. They 
built some houses and a steam saw-mill, about a mile above 
my house." 

Judge: "The same old mill that we see there now in ruins.-"' 

P. "Yes; the boiler bursted and killed two or three of the 
people, and the colony soon broke up, after the Yankee 
colonel that brought them here went away. Come, major, 
we had better shoulder our fish, and start for the boat." 








AU SABLE CHASM. RUNNING THE RAPIDS. 



344 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 

BY F. H. THURSTON ("KELPIE"). 



♦'Thegraylynge, by a nother name callyd ombre, is a delycyous fyffhe to manys 
mouthe. And ye maye take hym lyke as ye doo the troughte * * * And yf ye 
fe ony tyme of the daye the troughte or graylynge lepe, angle to hym vvyth a dubbe* 
acordynge to the fame moneth." — Davie Juliana Berners. 

THE very peculiar history of "The rise and fall of the Gray- 
ling," as it has not inaptly been termed by Mr. W. David 
Tomlin, has already been written by so many famous ang- 
lers and facile pens, that it seems to me almost a work of super- 
erogation to attempt a new one in my own words. 

For much of the technical and historical portions of this 
paper, I have freely drawn upon the writings of others — sci- 
entists and anglers. Where practicable, I have given the 
proper credit, but I may here say that I am largely indebted 
to the works of Professor G. Brown Goode, to the "Forest 
and Stream," and to the "American Angler." 

The following technical description is taken from Goode's 
"American Fishes." 

"Two species of the genus TJiyinallns occur in North 
America, one, the Arctic Grayling, T. signifci\ the other the 
Michigan Grayling, T. tricolor, the diagnostic characters of 
which are thus defined by Bean: 

SPECIES OF GRAYLING. 

A. Gill-rakers 22, pyloric coeca 19, maxilla one-third head; 
mandible equal to anal base; eye nearl}' equal to interorbital 

* Fly ' 345 



346 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Space; dorsal when laid back not reaching adipose fin. t. 

TRICOLOR. 

Aa. Gill-rakers i8; pyloric coeca i8; 3-10 head; mandible 
much shorter than anal base; eye much less than interorbital 
space; dorsal when laid back reaching end of adipose fin. T. 

SIGNIFER. 



To the anglers and ichthyologists of the United States 
the Grayling is comparatively a new fish. The Arctic spe- 
cies was described in 18 19, by Sir John Richardson, of the 
Franklin expedition, and called Thyinalliis signifer (stand- 
ard-bearer) ; Thjnnallits having reference to the odor resem- 
bling that of thyme or cucumbers, which causes it in England 
to be known as "the flower of fishes"; but which appears to 
be peculiar to the Grayling of Europe. 

The Esquimaux of the Mackenzie River give this fish the 
name of Hewluk-powak, or the fish zvitli the zving-likc fin. 
The Grayling is of the family Salmonidse, and is distinguished 
from the Trout by its smaller mouth and teeth, and by the 
greater size of the dorsal fin. The scales are also much 
larger. 

This fish is more elegantly formed than the Trout; it is of 
a beautiful silvery gray, the fins olive brown, the pectorals 
shading into blue near the ends. Its magnificent dorsal is 
dotted with purple or reddish spots, surrounded in life by 
greenish tints, and is about one-fourth the length of the fish. 
It rises with a gracefully curving outline to a height of two 
or more inches in a Grayling weighing a pound, and its 
apparent use is to enable the fish to rise and descend rapidly. 

In Michigan waters the weight of the fish seldom exceeds 
a pound and a half, and they are not often taken above fifteen 
inches in length. 

The Jordan, the Boyne and the Boardman were once noted 
as Grayling streams, but, as far as can be learned, the Trout 
were then new-comers, having as is believed migrated within 
forty years from the streams of the upper peninsula, where 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 



347 




348 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

they have always been numerous, to those of the lower,, 
where they are said to have been previously unknown. 

I first saw the Grayling caught near the mouth of the 
Cedar, in the Intermediate River, where now stands the 
village of Bellaire. 

Ten years ago they were fairly numerous in Cedar River,, 
but none of the streams I have mentioned now contains more 
than an occasional Grayling. 

It is said that Mr. Fred Mather hatched the first Grayling, 
in 1874; and since that time many attempts have been made 
to propagate this fish, notably those of the Michigan Fish 
Commission, which, I regret to say, have proved a failure. I 
cannot learn that others have been more successful. In 
many countries of Europe, the Trout and Grayling are found 
side by side, and the same is true in the streams forming 
the head-waters of the Missouri. In Michigan, however, it 
has been observed that wherever the Trout have found their 
way into a Grayling stream there has ensued a serious dimi- 
nution in the numbers of the latter fish. The favorite theory 
lias been that the Trout devour the spawn and the young of 
the Grayling; but some accurate observers hold to the opin- 
ion that the latter, being in its habits a local fish, and not 
^iven to migration, like the Trout, has simply been "caught 
3ut" by anglers. In the words of Mr. J. B. Battelle, "it is 
the fishermen and not the fish, who are responsible for the 
disappearance of the Grayling." 

In 1854 or 1855, Mr. Wright L. Coffinberry, a surveyor in 
the employ of the General Government, found Grayling 
abundant in the Muskegon and neighboring streams, and 
called the attention of Michigan scientists to the fact. It is 
said that the fish were at that time so numerous that they were 
taken in wagon loads by the settlers, and salted as provisions, 
rhey were locally known as "Michigan Trout." Soon after. 
Dr. Parker, of Grand Rapids, succeeded in procuring an 
imperfectly preserved specimen, and pronounced it a true 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 349 

Thymalins, a decision confirmed in 1865 hy Professor Cope, 
and later by Agassiz, to whom specimens had been sent by 
Mr. Charles Hallock. 

Slowly the Grayling worked its way to public notice. 
Genio C. Scott, writing in 1869, devotes less than seven 
lines of his book to this fish, though he gives it a good char- 
acter. 

, Later, Fred Mather writes: "There is no species sought 
for by anglers that surpasses the Grayling in beauty. They 
are more elegantly formed and more graceful than the Trout, 
and their great dorsal lin is a superb mark of loveliness. 
The sun's rays lighting up the delicate olive-brown tints of 
the back and sides, the bluish-white of the abdomen, and the 
mingling of tints of rose, pale blue, and purplish-pink on the 
fins, display a combination of colors equaled by no fish out- 
side of the tropics. 

It should, however, be stated that the peculiar coloration 
which has gained for the Michigan Grayling its specific name 
of Tricolor, is not always apparent. Its hues vary under 
different conditions, and are sometimes mainly confined to 
the silvery-gray and olive brown. 

Much discussion has been held among anglers concerning 
the merits of the Grayling as a game fish, and also as to its 
excellence as an article of food; and opinions widely differing 
on both these points have been advanced by men whose 
views are entitled to consideration. I am inclined to the 
■opinion that these differences are largely due to the particular 
months in which the fish were taken. 

In the Au Sable, the Grayling spawns in April, and I think 
earlier in some other streams. The proper months for taking 
this fish in Michigan are September, October, and Novem- 
ber; but a recent act of the Legislature of that State has 
fixed the close time from the first of September to the suc- 
ceeding May. It is to be hoped that at a future session the 
law may be so amended that the open season shall be from 



350 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

July to December first; or if this be thought too long a period, 
let them cut off the summer season, but in the name of all 
that is sensible and fitting, let us have the first two months 
of autumn. 

The following extract from a work on fly-fishing, by 
Edward Hamilton, M. D., is here given place as having a 
peculiar appropriateness in this connection: 

"There is something, however, in fly-fishing for Grayling, 
and it has its own peculiar charms. First the time of year 
when Grayling are in season — the sultry days of summer are 
past; the autumn colors predominate; all the senses are 
quickened; the breeze is fresh and balmy — just enough to 
send your fly farther over to the other bank; the temperature 
pleasant; the water not too cold for wading — in fact, every- 
thing combines to make this fishing very fascinating. I like 
Grayling fishing also for the fish itself. A Grayling, in sea- 
son, is worth catching. I call in season, September, Octo- 
ber and November; then the fish is as different as possible 
from the same in June, July, and August, both in beauty 
and in courage; no dead-heartedness then; and look at his 
color — he is indeed a glorious combination of purple, gray 
and gold. I like him also for his boldness and daring, rising 
again and again at the fly — 

"Unabashed, will dare, 
Balked e'er so oft the disappointed snare 
Simple and bold, 

"I say the Grayling is a bold and daring riser, and why is 
this.'' He lies low in the river when watching for his prey, 
and therefore is not so easily disturbed; and if you remain 
quite still when he has risen and missed the fly and gone 
down to his lair, he will surely, after a short time, rise again. 
He rises, too, differently from a Trout. A Trout lies close to 
the surface when he is feeding, and takes without eflort the 
flies floating over him, and also is easily scared. A Grayling, 
from lying deep in the water, almost close to the bottom, comes 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 351 

up with great rapidity and never takes the fly till it has 
passed him, and, should he miss it, disappears so quickly that 
he may well be compared to a shadow. Should he, how- 
ever, take the hook, mark then what happens: up goes his 
great back fin, and down goes his head in his determination 
to get to his hiding-place, and then comes the struggle. For 
a time he is always boring with his head up stream to get 
below, and it depends on his size and gameness, as well as 
on the skill of his captor, whether he succeeds or not. I 
say the great dorsal fin is raised to its utmost in the fish's 
endeavor to go down. Now as this fin is a great character- 
istic specialty in the Grayling, let us consider for a moment 
what is its use, and why it should be of such a size. 

"It appears evident that its purpose is to enable the fish 
to descend with great rapidity. I believe the large air-blad- 
der is, with the fin, the chief cause of its rapid rise to the 
surface, and I think it also probable, that in raising the large 
fin in descending, the fish is thereby able to compress the 
air-bladder more effectively, and thus increase the facility of 
descent. This is a question of extreme interest, and I hope 
soon to have further evidence on this point. All who watch 
the Grayling after he is hooked will observe with what 
tenacity he endeavors to get to the bottom of the river, and 
how large the dorsal fin appears during the fight. 

"It has been remarked by some writers that the Grayling 
when hooked keeps his head up stream, but still downward 
t'oward the bottom. So he does for a certain time; but find- 
ing himself baffled he takes to running down-stream (always 
boring his head downward, particularly the large fish), and I 
have known a big Grayling run down from above the lunch- 
eon-hut to the sheep-bridge on the Houghton water before 
he could be landed- — and then to call him a dead-hearted 
fish!" 

The Grayling streams of Michigan are the Hersey, the 
lower Pine, the Manistee and its many feeders. The Musca- 



352 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

gon, undoubtedly, at some time was a Grayling stream. 
The Pigeon River, the Sturgeon, the Au Sable, the Maple, 
the Black, and other streams flowing into the "Inland Chain" 
of lakes and rivers, are, however, still fairly stocked with 
this fish. 

It has been said by some anglers that the flesh of the 
Grayling is preferable to that of the Trout. It is assuredly 
most palatable, and has this in its favor: that "one can eat 
it every day during a long outing, and the last meal is as 
hearty as the first." 

There appears to be a difference in the structure and 
habits of the Grayling in different waters. Those found in 
the streams emptying on the western shore of Michigan are 
smaller than those of its eastern waters; and it has been said 
that "the fish of the Manistee is a jumper, while that of the 
Au Sable is a low, deep, hard puller, with slightly different 
tactics to free himself than the Manistee Grayling." 

With regard to the Montana Grayling, I can hardly do 
better than introduce an article from the pen of William C. 
Harris, editor of the "American Angler:" 

"Within a short distance (soon walked) from the hotel, 
the three rivers above named — Gallatin, Madison and Jeffer- 
son — flow close together and are indiscriminately fished by 
the resident anglers. In all the rivers the Grayling, the 
Rocky Mountain Trout {Salve/hins purpura tits') and White- 
iish i^Coregomis williamsonii) can be found, but the Gallatin 
is the fish river of my dreams. In its waters the three fish, 
just named, veritably 'swarm.' 

"We fished the Gallatin at a point about four miles from 
the town, and as I descended the bank to reach the stream, 
the surface of the pool before me was mottled with jumping 
and feeding fish. Here a Grayling, there a Trout, and in 
between, a White-fish. It seemed a sacrilege to the memory 
of Brother Izaak to place a lure before them. Stifling our 
qualms (easily done) we walked above the pool and cast our 



rHE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 353 

two flies at the lower end of the incoming rapid. Two fish, 
of course — one a GrayHng, the other aWhitefish; the first on 
a brown hackle, the latter on a coachman. Again a cast, 
again two fish, and so on for a half-hour, alternating in 
species between the Trout, the Grayling, and the Whitefish. 

"I did not move more than ten yards from my first posi- 
tion during the half-hour, at the end of which I became sated 
and started up-stream to fish the unlikely places, recalling 
to mind a similar experience on my first visit to the Gogebic 
Bass, when, to the surprise of my guide, I told him to take 
me to some place where the fish were not so plentiful. This 
satiated cry — 'enough,' 'enough' — is doubtless a personal 
experience with many of my readers and it is the sign manual 
that distinguishes the angler from the pot-fisher. 

"The Grayling of Montana, to catch which I had traveled 
more than 2,000 miles, did not disappoint my angling expec- 
tations. It is, I think, a stronger fish, with sturdier fighting 
qualities, than its congener of Michigan waters. It has a 
thicker, broader body, and a somewhat longer head, but is 
much less beautiful in contour and coloration. The Eastern 
fish is more clipper-built, leaping frequently from the water 
when hooked; in fact reminding me, measurably of course, 
of the Skip-jack or Lady-fish of Florida, which is almost con- 
stantly out of the water 'dancing on its tail,' when you are 
bringing it to creel. The leap of the Montana Grayling is 
not frequent, as the fish is disposed to fight deep, making 
longer and stronger surges under the restraint of the tackle, 
than those of Michigan waters. The coloration of the two 
fish differs: the violet bloom of the body, seemingly trans- 
lucent, is of a more delicate tint in the Eastern fish and more 
generally diffused. The dorsal fin, from which the Graylings 
derive their specific name — signifer, 'the standard bearer' — 
is not so high or so resplendently colored as those of the 
Michigan fish. 

"Two striking differences exist between the habits and habi- 



354 AMERICAN GAME FISHES, 

tat of the Montana and Michigan GrayHngs. The latter 
lives and thrives only in rivers, spring-fed, with sandy bot- 
toms, and of a temperature seldom exceeding fifty-two 
degrees. Our recollection of the Manistee in Michigan, upon 
which we spent several days among the Grayling two years 
ago, is that we did not see even a pebble upon the bottom, 
except, here and there, a small cluster of stones not much 
larger than hen-eggs, which were exposed on the rapids by 
the rapid rush of the stream, and these stony rifts were of 
small dimensions, and often a mile or two distant from each 
other. The rest of the stream consisted of shallow, sandy 
reaches and pools, at the bottom of which the sand was 
mottled with patches of white and yellow with dark blotches 
here and there, formed by a deposit of drift. In the Gallatin 
the conditions are reversed. The temperature often reaches 
sixty degrees, and the bed of the river is for the most part 
rocky, at least, covered with stones, the smallest of which 
may be represented by the cobble-stones of street pavements. 
In truth, the pool above referred to, in which I caught most 
of my Grayling, was rough-strewn with rocks, many of 
which sized up to that of a bushel measure; a sandy reach 
was not seen along the two miles of the stream fished by our 
party. 

"Again — It is an established fact that the Michigan Gray- 
Hng cannot live and increase in any stream in which trout or 
other fish have established themselves. They seem to 
diminish very rapidly under such conditions, and, strange to 
say, the reverse is the fact in English waters, where Thymal- 
lus holds its own against the brown Trout. In the Gallatin, 
the Trout, the Grayling and the Whitefish live in harmonious 
brotherhood. On one occasion, using three files as an 
experiment, I caught one of each of these three fish, at the 
same cast, showing that they feed and range together. 

"The ordinary Trout-flies used in the East will, under fa- 
vorable conditions, lure the Grayling, the Trout and the White- 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 355 

fish, of Montana waters. The hackles, black, brown and 
gray, should always be in stock, and of the winged flies, 
the Professor, Lord Baltimore, Abbey, Yellow Sally, Montre- 
al, etc., are useful." 

The number of anglers at the Gallatin increases rapidly, 
and a very few years may serve to throw light upon the ques- 
tion whether the Trout or the fishermen are to be held 
responsible for the dearth of Grayling in their former favor- 
ite haunts. 

The proper tackle for Grayling is the same as that used 
for Trout: a light rod, click-reel, and twenty-five or thirty 
yards of water-proofed line. The weight of the rod may 
depend upon the swiftness of the current to be fished. If this 
is not too rapid, a rod of four to six ounces will land the 
largest Grayling in Michigan or Montana waters. 

Generally speaking, however, an eight-ounce rod is not 
too heavy, and will be found more satisfactory for all waters. 
The Grayling can fight hard when he chooses. I have seen 
a pretty good rod broken at the handle by a bait-fisher, in 
trying to throw out a large Grayling by main strength. 
Nevertheless, in fishing for the Grayling, do not forget, partic- 
ularly if you are a Trout-fisher, that it has a very tender 
mouth, much more so than the Trout, and must be dealt 
with accordingly. 

It is well to have a good assortment of flies, the same you 
would choose for Trout. The Grayling is naturally a surface 
feeder, and not being as easily scared as the Trout, will often 
rise again and again at the same fly. Not unfrequently the 
stomach has been found to contain cedar leaves, etc., which 
the fish had swallowed, thinking them insects. 

It should, however, be stated that there is evidence show- 
ing that the Grayling is to some extent a vegetable feeder, 
and the leaves or similar substances may have been inten- 
tionally swallowed. 

The different hackles, black, gray, brown and red, are 



356 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

good at all seasons. In the early summer months the small 
brown or gray gnats are taking. The Grayling shows a slight 
preference for a fly with some white in its make-up — the 
coachman and the Beaverkill wrapped with silver tinsel are 
killing. 

Among the favorites are the grasshoppers, yellow and 
green, the Bee, grizzly king, royal coachman, jungle cock, 
Montreal, Lord Baltimore, Professor, Abbey, yellow Sally, 
etc. I have seen the Grayling rise freely to the blue dragon- 
fly, but only on one occasion. I have since tried it with 
very unsatisfactory results. 

I am not opposed to bait-fishing at times, and I once fished 
for Grayling with a piece of pork. There was nothing else 
to bait with, and I caught no fish. My companion, using 
the same lure, was more successful, and managed to secure 
enough for our dinner. I remember one day sitting in a 
boat on the Manistee, in a heavy rain, and ineffectually cast- 
ing my flies; while the man opposite, using angle-worms, 
caught, in half an hour, nearly a score of fine fish. He was 
a skilful Trout-fisher, and it was interesting to note the differ- 
ence between the methods of the Grayling and those of the 
Trout in taking a bait. The latter comes with a rush, and 
a snap; while the former moves so carefully that it is often 
only by the motion of the line that the angler can tell if the 
bait has been taken. 

Some of the best Grayling streams of Michigan remain 
such because they are difficult of ac-cess and little known; 
and it was toward one of these, not many years ago, on a 
calm, still September afternoon, that the writer bent his way 
in company with a friend who shall be called John. It was 
our first visit to that locality, and on the way we interviewed 
a native who professed to know something of the river. 

"Wa-al," said he, biting at the end of a piece of "navy 
plug," "the's fish enough, but yeou want ter gi'daown tew 
three mild 'fore yeou'll find many on 'em. The river's 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 357 

full o'rapids, 'n I do' know haow yeou'll git along." 

We informed him that we had a boat. 

"Ya-as — so I see. The most o' them 'at's ben daown in 
a boat gin'ly ties a piece o' railroad iron to the hind eend o' 
ther skift, so's ter gi'daown ther rapids kind o' stiddy like." 

John and I looked at each other and grinned. Fixing the 
moss-back with my eagle eye, to him then thus in substance 
I replied: 

"My cautious friend, to us it skills not that every boatman 
hereabout should tardily tow a railroad in his rear, what 
time he runneth rapids. Life is all too short for that sort 
of foolery. For two-score years and more, as opportunity 
occurred, have I cruised the rushing rivers of our fatherland, 
yet have I never tied to the tail of my craft any such contrap- 
tion as this you advocate; and further I may add, the Nine 
gods helping me, I never will." 

"Wa-al, mabbe yeou know best, yeou're the doctor, 's the 
sayin' is, but it's most darnation aowly on them there rapids, 
naow I tell ye, 'n Fll be gosh darned ef Fd put intew that 
there river 'ithaout suthin' ter stiddy ther bwut daown apast 
them there rocks. It's a kinder temptin' o' Providence." 

"We can tell better after we get through." 

"W'y, yeou don't 'xpect ter go clean threw, dew ye.-*" 

"That's the plan. There'll be no cordeliering on this trip." 

"Wa'al, yeou'll hev ter dew it, I s'pose, 'f yeou say so, 'n 
'ta'nt no bisness o' mine. But yer baound ter git 'n trouble. 
Ther rapids isn't all, by a darned sight. The's rocks, 'n 
logs, 'n daown timber, 'n jam-piles, 'n telerguf poles, 'n 
cedar ties, 'n every other dum thing yeou c'n think on. 
Yeou do' no what yer a comin' tew, no time." 

"That is just what brought us here, my friend," said John. 
"We want to see what sort of a river it is, and what's in it; 
and if we knew just what we were going to find there, we 
would change our plans and choose another." 

The sun was sinkinsr toward the western horizon when we 



358 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Reached the last house on our road; a small log-cabin, before 
which a huge woman sat knitting, and smoking a cob pipe. 
She courteously answered our inquiries concerning the proper 
route, and as several logging roads branched from the track, 
she called her son — a boy of about twelve years — and told 
him to guide us to the river. The little fellow ran into the 
house, and soon reappeared, carrying an immense army 
musket. 

We could not repress a smile when, shouldering the 
preposterous weapon, the boy took his place in front of the 
team, arid prepared to lead the way. 

The mother laughed good-humoredly. "It is a pretty 
big gun, but Jock knows how to use it. Git us somethin' 
for supper, Jock, 'fore ye come back." 

A mile of rough travel brought us to the edge of a small 
marsh, beyond which we saw the gleam of the river. Here 
it was necessary to leave the wagon, the ground being 
impracticable for horses. 

Lifting the boat, we passed the marsh, the boy in advance 
holding his musket at a ready, and as we neared the stream, 
a pair of ruffed grouse rose near our feet and sped across 
the river; but before they had gone thirty yards, the old gun 
spouted forth its flame, and the leading bird dropped into 
the bushes on the other side of the stream. 

"Whew!" said John. "Who taught you to shoot grouse 
that way.^" 

"Dad," replied [the boy. "They a'n't grouse, they're 
pat'ges." 

"You're a promising specimen of Young America, I must 
say. We'll buy that bird of you for supper." 

"I don't want ter sell 'im. Marm likes 'em." 

Just at this stage of the colloquy, we noticed that the fish^ 
were rising at the feathers which had settled on the water. 

"Brown hackles, eh, John.^" 

"Of course — see 'em jump; but we can't fish now, we 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 359 

must have a better camp-ground than this, and it's growing 
late." 

The boy was rewarded and sent home ; the diriver 
instructed to meet us three days later with the team at a 
given point some thirty miles below; the boat was launched 
and stowed, and soon we were gliding down the swift, shallow 
river, bending our gaze to the right and left, in search of a 
camping-place. Rounding a bend, the current became 
swifter, and soon we were rushing toward a gleam of foam 
which seemed to stretch clear across the river. 

"Which way now.^" 

"Right through that little slick patch ahead, and then 
dodge to the right." 

Straight for the "little slick patch" we sped, and were 
through it in an instant, just missing the ledges to port, 
while the spray flashed over the bow, as short to the right 
we turned, and dodging the bowlders that lay in wait, the 
powerful sweeps of the paddles sent the good boat round the 
rough point of a threatening reef, and away we went in the 
whirling waves, down a slope of feathery foam. 

"Pretty good for an introduction that." 

"Yes. Wonder where we are going to camp.''" said John. 
"I want a Grayling for supper." 

"Can't tell yet," I replied; as, standing in the stern, I griped 
more firmly my long Canadian paddle, and kept my eyes on 
the channel straight before. Old Joe Le Clair had made 
that paddle, and a better piece of timber never graced the 
hand of a steersman. 

Swifter and swifter grew the current; the drooping 
branches which brushed its surface were swept downward by 
its force, and, laden with tufts of moss and leaves, splashed 
in and out of the stream with a queer, jerky motion, as we 
hurried past, while now and then, with plash and scream, a 
water-fowl arose from the pools along the margin, and 
flashed away through the sunlit leaves. 



366 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

And now arose on either hand dark limestone cHffs, rifted 
and seamed, and hung with ferns and clematis vines, and 
the blue bells of the campanula. Below us was the "Devil's 
Elbow," so called by the raftsmen who plied their adventur- 
ous trade along the stream, and as this gorge of ominous 
name now opened on our view, I thought that despite the 
coarseness of the appellation, it was hardly inappropriate. 

Down the steep slope we sped, straight where the swollen 
river flung its force against a wall of rock, beneath the frown- 
ing front of a precipice, and, wheeling sharp to the left with 
a foaming swirl, was lost to view in the depths below. 

"By Jove," said John, "there is a singular example of 
stratification." 

"No talking to the man at the helm. Stand by to fend 
ofT." Our prow was cutting the wall of foam at the base of 
the cliff, but swerved to the powerful sweep of the paddles, 
and the reeling boat shot down the gorge, past rock and reef, 
that showed their teeth to weather and lee, through the 
gleam of the plunging foam. 

The river widened, and in five minutes more we were 
floating upon a swift but tranquil current. The sun had 
set, and the evening twilight rested on the forest, when we 
moored our boat to a projecting root, and made our camp in 
a grove of great canoe-birches. 

The shades of night were falling fast before our tent was 
pitched, but in no long time were for us dispelled by the 
flames of a glorious camp-fire whose huge logs glowed in the 
fervent heat, while eddying sparks and volumed smoke 
whirled upward through the birchen boughs, and stirred their 
whispering leaves. 

Mind that this fire was builded for its own dear sake. We 
were no greenhorns, to try to cook our supper by a volcano. 
Our culinary department was situated in the background, 
and though comparatively inconspicuous, proved thoroughly 
effective, as was made manifest by the savory steams which 
hung on the still night-air. 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 361 

During our meal, the conversation naturally drifted toward 
the objects of our cruise, and when we had finished, John 
arose, took up his rod, and attaching a white miller to his 
leader, stated his intention of trying a cast by moonlight. 
This he accordingly did, but unsuccessfully; and after one or 
two changes of flies, he gave up the experiment, returned 
to the fire and lighted his pipe. 

The air was frosty. Fresh logs were heaped upon the fire, 
and, disposing ourselves upon the blankets, we leaned our 
backs against the birches that towered aloft against the starry 
sky, their white bark gleaming in the ruddy blaze. 

Said John, reflectively: "The best day I ever had was on 
the Jordan, long ago. Jim S. and I caught one hundred and 
forty-two Grayling in one day, besides those we returned to 
the water. We took home nothing under a pound, and 
many were nearly twice that weight. There are none such 
to be had now. It was in July, and we used nothing but 
gnats and gray hackles. 

"Jim got excited once, when he had three big fellows on 
at one time, and broke the second joint of his rod. Then 
we dropped the hand-fly, and at last used only one gnat 
apiece. The last time I fished that river, I caught fifty-six 
Trout, but not a Grayling rose to the fly. 

"In Maple River they are still plentiful, and (so I hear) in 
Portage Lake. 

"On the Au Sable, the best fishing-grounds are forty miles 
further down than they used to be. 

"I have had good success on the Buttermilk and Cannon 
creeks, but you have to go pretty well down the streams for 
the best fish. Cannon Creek seems to be full of little fellows. 
On the Little Manistee the Grayling is still plentiful, but I 
fear not for long, at the rate they are being taken. 

"I believe that the way to insure the preservation of this 
fish is to pass an act prohibiting, under a heavy penalty, the 
catching of Grayling at any time except during the 



362 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

month of September. They are in season then, if ever." 
The last tale was told, the last pipe smoked. Fresh logs 
were heaped upon the fire; we spread our blankets in the 
tent, above our fragrant couch of hemlock tips, and soon the 
hush of the forest rested on the camp, while 

"Through it, and round it, and over it all, 
Sounded incessant the waterfall." 

I was astir soon after daybreak, but truth compels me to 
say that this state of things was consequent upon the advent 
of John at the door of the tent, with his four-ounce rod in 
one hand and a pair of resplendent Graylings in the other. 

"I wanted fish for breakfast," he explained, "and thought 
it wasn't worthwhile to waken you. So I just cast a brown 
and a gray hackle outside the little cove, just below the camp, 
and in two seconds I had 'em." 

The fish were soon in the pan, and breakfast dispatched 
in "short order;" the tent struck, and we once more were on 
the water. The Grayling should, if possible, be eaten soon 
after it is caught, as it will become unfit for use much sooner 
than the Trout. Wishing, however, to take home a reason- 
able number, we had provided salt, and a small tub; and it 
was agreed that only the finer specimens of our catch should 
be saved. 

We anchored near the spot where John had taken his fish, 
and soon perceived a school of Grayling, some of which dis- 
appeared in the grass and weeds at our approach, while oth- 
ers remained in sight. I was still busy with the anchor line 
when John, waving the delicate rod around his head, sent 
his flies some thirty feet down the stream, and just at the 
edge of the weeds. A noble Grayling broke water, and was 
fast to the stretcher on the instant. "See his fin," shouted 
my companion, his eyes glistening with excitement as the 
fish leaped clear of the water in his efforts to free himself, 
the great dorsal flashing like jewels in the rays of the rising 
sun. 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 363 

"What's the matter with you now?" I repHed, hastily rais- 
ing my own rod from the thwarts. "Seems to me that a 
man who could coolly comment upon the formation of the 
rocks, while running the 'Devil's Elbow,' needn't make such 
a beastly row about a pound Grayling." 

"He's nigher two pounds than one — look at him now — no 
he ain't either;" for another leap of the fish showed that it 
was hooked back of the gills, and my friend more coolly than 
at first, proceeded to draw his prize nearer the boat, and 
within reach of the landing-net. 

"Not as big as I thought, but isn't he a beauty.' Somehow, 
the first one always excites me — I can't help it." 

Meanwhile, I had cast a pair of hackles, red and gray, and 
soon had hooked a fish, while John was playing a pair of 
them upon the other side of the boat. In a few minutes we 
had secured half a dozen, ranging from half a pound to a 
pound in weight. We could clearly see the fish against the 
bottom of yellow sand, and decided that there were none 
larger in the school. 

We therefore raised the anchor, and taking up the paddles, 
floated down the stream. So clear was the water that we 
could see nearly every object which it contained, and now 
and then, as we passed a pool, a school of Grayling would 
scurry away to seek better cover. 

The current grew more rapid, and as we alternately made 
casts, one fishing while the other steered, we found that 
John's four-ounce rod was rather too light for this rapid 
stream, I was using a ten-ounce rod, of English make — an 
old favorite^and had less difficulty in bringing my fish to 
the net. 

Near the head of a short rapid, John, who had changed his 
flies for a coachman and a professor, hooked a big fellow, 
and I held the boat with a setting-pole, while the fish made 
a determined effort to get to the bottom. Unsuccessful in 
this piece of strategy, he made one or two leaps, the great 



364 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

back fin raised to its fullest extent, the gold and purple shin- 
ing in the sun; then after another effort to sound, he changed 
his course; and away he went, down the rapid, John keeping 
a steady strain upon the fish, while I dropped the pole and 
grasped my paddle, and down we went in the wake of the 
Grayling. 

There were some ugly bowlders strewn along our course, 
and the angler was compelled to put forth his best skill to 
prevent the Grayling from snapping the line around some of 
them; but we passed the rapid in safety, the fish still fast to 
the hook, and by this time pretty well wearied, so that, 
rounding to in an eddy, I managed to hold the boat while 
the net was put in requisition, and the fish boated. He 
weighed nearly two pounds, and was the largest taken dur- 
ing the trip. 

Here we moored the boat, and had good sport, casting our 
flies from the reefs which projected from the shore; and 
returning to the water two fish out of every three that we 
caught. 

We dined at this place, and once more proceeded on our 
cruise, feeling rather jolly, as we erroneously supposed that 
we had passed the worst of the obstructions in the stream. 
We had left behind a forest of spruce, and were passing 
through a swampy region, when I became aware of a large 
doe, standing upon a shallow, and looking down the river. 
She made a beautiful picture, her glossy form in full relief 
against the swaying clematis vines, and dark green alder 
leaves; and not until we were within thirty yards did she 
turn her head, when, taking a short but steady look at us, 
she leisurely hopped into the bushes. We saw several 
others on the trip, but such a picture as this one presented 
lives long in the memory of a sportsman. 

We soon encountered more rocks and rapids, and as we 
swung around a curve, John lifted his voice and energetically 
said: "A jam-pile, by thunder!" True enough, the river 



THE AMERICAN GRAYLING. 365 

below was effectually blocked by a jam of telegraph poles, 
which were piled to a height of many feet, in the bed of the 
rushing stream. 

Here was our first "carry," and it took us nearly two hours 
to make it; but at last the work was accomplished, and, well 
wearied, we made an early camp and fished the rapids, but 
with small success. This, however, did not distress us, as 
we had enough; and we devoted ourselves to salting the fish 
that we had saved. There were about sixty, all of large size. 
Had we retained all we caught, we should have more than 
trebled this number. 

Our rest that night was peaceful, and before sunrise we 
were on our way. We judged that we were within five 
miles of the bridge where we expected to find our team, and 
we hoped to be able to take home a few freshly caught 
Grayling. 

In this we were not disappointed. It seemed rather late 
in the season for gnats, but John attached a red and a brown 
for his first cast, and did not again change the flies, which 
were well suited to his light rod. 

Mine was heavier, and I did not try the gnats, but held to 
the hackles, brown, red and black; steering and casting alter- 
nately with my companion, and each meeting with good 
success. 

Too soon the bridge and the driver hove in sight; we each 
made one more cast "for luck" and reeled in. The driver 
waved his hat and cheered, as the last resplendent fish was 
drawn from the water and held up to view; and we pushed 
ashore, with forty fine fellows for our morning's catch. 

In ten more minutes we had left behind the river, all save 
its delightful memories, and were swiftly rattling over the 
road in the direction of civilization. 



THE PIKE. 

Esox Lucius — Esocidcs. 



BY W. DAVID TOMLIN. 



"The Pike belongs to the family of the Esocidge. Body elongated, sub-cylin- 
drical, with small scales, margin of upper jaw formed by intermaxillaries and 
maxillaries laterally; mouth very large, jaws elongate, depressed; teeth strong, 
hooked, unequal on intermaxillaries, vomer and palationes; dorsal short, opposite 
anal; gill-openings wide; air bladder present; voracious fish of the fresh waters of 
the northern regions. Genus one; species, six or seven." — Jordan. 

THE Pike family are familiar objects to any person whose 
habits lead him to frequent the banks of sharp-running 
rivers or cold clear lakes, but especially to the boy who 
goes a-fishing. To distinguish between the branches of the 
family, however, the boy must either lay them side by side, or 
if he be taking object-lessons in free-hand drawing, let him 
sketch a Pike, and then continue his studies; there will 
remain an impress on his brain that years of business cares 
will not efface. Whenever in after years the strong, promi- 
nent features of a northern Pike are introduced to him he 
recognizes the friend of his boyhood days. The Pike to him 
remains a Pike forever. 

What is a Pike.? 

Ichthyological: A fish of the genus Esox, named for its 
length, and shape or form of its snout. It is distinguished 
by its projecting lower jaw and its full, prominent eyes. 

Its head and back are a dark green, shading nearly to 
black — graduating to a pearly white on the belly; the belly 
fins, four of them, are green, tinging to pinkish hue around 

367 



368 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

the edges, the dorsal and anal fins being large, of bony, 
sinewy structure, giving the fish enormous power in the 
water. These two, with the caudal fin, are dark green in 
color. Its sides are marked by bars or blotches of dusky 
white streaks running from the back down toward the white 
of the belly. Its caudal fin attracts the attention of any one 
examining the fish; it is not truncate, but just enough bifur- 
cated to give it its almost lightning speed in turning, or hold- 
ing its own in a sharp current. 

The prominent features in the Pike are his large opercu- 
lum, or cheek-bone, his strong jaws, and his general build. 
He is designed for speed, and for fighting. 

Where does he live.-^ 

His home is in the large lakes and rivers of the North-west, 
especially from the St. Lawrence throughout the chain of 
lakes connecting therewith; the lakes and rivers of Ohio, 
Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the water-shed 
of Canada, connecting with large lakes leading to the St. 
Lawrence water-shed. You may find him in the bays con- 
necting with these lakes wherever the long wiry rushes grow, 
or where the yellow lily-pad shows. It grows to a length of 
three feet — sometimes more — and weighs up to about eight- 
een or twenty pounds. Specimens have been taken in 
Michigan, and along the bays connecting with the north shores 
of Lake Superior, weighing up to twenty-five pounds. 

It is a powerful fish, and is no coward; it will fight as 
viciously as a terrier. We have seen smaller Pike with jaws 
locked and lashing the water around them like a boiling 
-cauldron. Occasionally letting go and backing out, they 
would again rush at each other with open jaws, and keep up 
the fight until one is beaten and driven away, or until both 
are exhausted. 

Some years ago I found two dead, with both jaws fast set, 
so that they could not be pulled open. Both of them 
were handsome male fish, and must have fought fiercely, 



THE PIKE. 



369 




370 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

for their bodies were cut all along the sides and bellies. 

The Pike is not particular as to the quality of his food. 
Anything that is alive or can be digested is eaten and 
enjoyed. I can remember in my boyhood days, a smart 
spaniel pup that would go anywhere his young boss told him 
to go. I sent him across the large fish-pond, in the grounds 
at the rear of the old home. While swimming across he 
began yelping most pitifully, and put on a spurt to the bank 
of the pond where I was standing; I was on my knees ready 
to lift him out; a big Pike was following him. I caught the 
dog by the neck, pulled him out and took him to the house. 
Mother dressed a badly lacerated hind leg. Boy-like, I was 
fond of that pond, and after getting several duckings that 
closely approached drowning, and thrashings almost without 
number, and after a sheep had been drowned in the pond, 
it was decided that it must be drained and filled up. The 
big Pike that snapped at the spaniel was there, but not a sign 
of a turtle of any kmd. There were fish in abundance, but 
by far the largest and handsomest was the pup's enemy, 
which, when dressed, weighed twelve pounds. 

My home was near a large paper-mill, having an abun- 
dance of cold spring-water draining a valley twenty miles 
long. Two rivers and several creeks fed the large streams. 
It was a splendid feeding and breeding ground for the 
Esocidae. Trout were also found in the smaller streams, 
but in the two rivers the Esocidae could be found anywhere. 
Abundance of liags and rushes lined the banks of one stream; 
these were the home of the hell-diver family — and of the 
mud hen. Many times have I laid watching the antics of 
the young of both species. As they grew larger the mother 
bird would take them into the larger stream. One day, 
while I was watching the diving and preening of the family, 
one of them suddenly disappeared under the water. The 
hen-bird began to gather the little ones around her with such 
a squawking and clucking that I, too, grew interested and 



THE PIKE. 371 

excited. She hustled the young birds up to the bank of the 
stream, but too late! Before she could get them all out, the 
wicked eyes and prominent snout of a big Pike came to the 
surface and sucked down another little birdling of the flock. 
I rose in the brush that hid me, and saw the cunning face 
of the Pike. And if ever a lish laughed, he did! The 
mother bird saw me too, and hustled the remainder of her 
family into the rushes. 

We were raising some young ducks at the time; a fancy 
breed; but they had been hatched by a hen. I predicted 
they would be Pike-food before they were a week old. The 
old hen strutted around, proud of her family, but one day 
she led them into the meadow through which the tail-race of 
the mill ran — a stream of water five feet deep — and the home 
of the Pike and the Pickerel. 

Hearing the cackling of the hen, I ran out and found the 
ducklings in the water, and jumping into the boat, drove them 
out, after a long chase. Once or twice I saw the sharp 
dash of one of the Esocidas after them, but I got them in 
safely. Mother promised me something handsome, if I could 
keep them out of the water for a few days, until they got big 
enough to go with the old ducks. Coming out of the mill 
the next day, I saw the ducklings paddling around in the 
rushes, and the old ducks near them, quacking and calling as 
if something were wrong. 

I dashed through the hall of the house, catching up my 
sixteen-gauge single gun as I went, banging doors behind me 
and all the time vowing dire vengeance on any specimen of 
the Esocidae that might show his long face. 

Just as I jumped into the boat, after counting them, I 
heard the minature, peeping "qu-a-a" — of a duckling, but it 
was never finished ! It disappeared under the water, and I 
saw the broad tail of a big Pike as he swung out into deeper 
water. Of eleven ducklings five went this way ; the others 
we saved until they could take care of themselves. 



372 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Is it any wonder I exercised all the cunning of a boys' 
nature — all the budding ingenuity of a mechanical taste, just 
developing, to circumvent these "varmints?" 

Another brood of ducks was being raised at this time. 
A dead bunch of yellow down was brought out one morning, 
causing a shout that rung through the house. "Mr. Pikee, I 
am going to get you now!" I cunningly cut it open, inserted 
a cork in the small duck, fixed my double hook inside, bent 
the snood on my line, and was ready for business. Jumping 
on a raft that I used for fishing, I drifted down-stream, letting 
my line and the duckling float ahead of me. I dropped my 
stone anchor and prepared for a surprise — pulling off my 
shoes to be ready for a swim, if need be. Almost lOO feet of 
line had run out with the current when — a plunge ! and quick 
as a flash my duckling had gone. I let him go for some time 
without offering any resistance, for I wanted to be dead sure 
of the long-snouted poacher. I allowed him all the time he 
wanted to taste his duckling, but at the first move he made 
to run down-stream, I struck. I had a full hand! A mad 
flsh — especially a powerful Pike — is no light task for a boy 
to handle. For some minutes he rushed up-stream, down- 
stream, across — every way, to find a friendly stump. "Aha! 
my long-nosed beauty! your duck-hunting days are over!" I 
knew every hole in the tail-race, almost every yard of the 
water, as well as the Pike, and had swam the whole length 
of that tail-race too many times for any Esox to fool me. 
Managing somehow to pull up the stone-anchor, and take a 
turn of the anchor-line around one of the big spikes in the 
raft, I drifted, yelling and shouting as any boy would under 
similar circumstances. Some of the men employed in the 
mill, seeing my Indian dance, had run down the river banks, 
and were giving me plenty of advice. Gradually drawing in 
the fish until close to the raft, I saw that I had him played 
out, and taking the line into my fingers, I dropped my rod, 
and quick as thought, plumped flat onto my stomach, slipped 



THE PIKE. 373 

my forefinger into the fish's gills and hauled him on the raft. 
Then jumping for my pushing-pole I gave him a crack over 
his big eyes that paralyzed him. Lifting the pole to give him 
number two, the weapon hung fire. My line had, in some 
way, coiled around the pole, and instead of the blow coming 
on the head of the Pike, it came across my bare toes! In a 
flash I was bottom-side-up under the water, fussing and 
spluttering as a boy always does when anything hurts him. 
I fairly howled with pain, until I saw that the squirming 
Pike was getting too near the edge of my raft, when, towing 
it to the bank, I transferred my rod, line and fish, to dry 
ground, and then "whoop-e-e-d" over my first big Pike! 
It was only about thirty inches long, but it was the fish that 
had taken such a fancy to our downy ducks; and my victory 
over him, won, as it was, at the expense of a wound and an 
involuntary bath, was a most glorious achievement. 

The hiding-place of the Pike is under a channel bank 
where rushes grow to the edge of the channel; or, in the 
vicinity of tree-stumps and submerged logs, especially if the 
old roots project out into the running streams, he can often 
be found in the deep water, a little above the mouth of a 
channel, between two lakes, or in the pool at the foot of such 
channel. 

How am I to catch him.^ 

A few years ago English methods were described in reprints 
of English books, or written by Englishmen who had become 
Americanized, yet who taught that the "Thames style," or 
"Nottingham fishing-tackle" were the proper methods by 
which to catch Pike, or other "coarse fish," as they called 
them, to distinguish theni from the gamy Trout. But with 
the improvements introduced in late years by American 
tackle-makers, the English methods are relegated to the 
shades of the past, by American anglers. I will refer to one 
or two points in the manner of casting, that experience has 



374 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

led me to adopt when fishing for Pike in our wide rivers, or 
bays on the great lakes. 

The Pike is a sharp-eyed, shy fish; you must reach him 
"a ways off"; you cannot expect to stand on a big rock, drop 
down in the water beneath you, and get hooked to a great 
northern Pike. "He aint nobody's fool, and don't you be- 
lieve it!" 

Take a trolling or spinning hook, baited with a piece of fat 
pork, cut in shape like a fish, have a boat pulled alongside 
the rushes I have spoken of; let out twenty yards of line, 
and then have your oarsman pull a long slow stroke, and if 
the Pike family are receiving visitors, you will soon know it. 
Trolling with a long line and three sets of hooks is a most 
barbarous way of fishing for the Pike. I care not if this 
family are the Sharks of fresh water, they are entitled to fair 
play. His Satanic Majesty is never as black as he is painted, 
so the Esox lucius is cousin german to the Nobilor vulgate 
Mascalonge, and partakes of his noble nature. He is a foe- 
man worthy the steel of the most ardent angler. Some an- 
glers call the family "snakes." I pity them! Go where Pike 
can be foun^. fish for them with legitimate tackle, and give 
them a fair chance, and they will give just as much pleasure 
as any royal Small-mouth Bass that ever swam. 

FISHING TACKLE. 

A lance-wood or bethabara-wood rod, of about nine feet 
long, a "Milam," "Chubb's," "Henshall," "Van Antwerp," 
"Abbey & Imbrie, Steel-pivot Multiplier," or an "Automatic 
reel" — a strong but not heavy line, silver gimp snoods of 
about two feet long, then with a heavy sneck-bend hook 
with a small lip-hook whipped into the gimp snood to fasten 
the bait to, and a good gaff-hook, and the angler is equipped. 
With a silver chub or shiner for bait, run out about five feet 
of line from the tip of your rod, casting sideways out from 



THE PIKE. 375 

the body into the stream, or from the boat. You will find 
the weight of your bait will run out twenty or thirty feet of 
line; draw in the tip of your rod sideways about two feet, 
then allow the bait to sink a little, giving it a moment's rest, 
then gently jerk the tip sideways two or three feet; and 
keep on in this way until the bait is almost under your rod. 
Practice soon renders angling for Pike almost perfect in cast- 
ing, when one has good fishing tackle. The angler should 
never be satisfied until he can lay out seventy to one hundred 
feet of line, with no other sinker than a common buckshot, 
and a silver shiner (L. selene). 

But to young anglers whose purse is often slender, and to 
whom a Milam reel is a luxury, the art of casting for Pike 
can be attained with a little diligence. My earlier experi- 
ence in Pike-fishing has never been forgotten; my pole was 
a strip of white pine cut from a clear board twelve feet long, 
tapered into shape, the standing guides whipped into it; my 
reel a primitive one made by myself, and with no multiplier. 
My practice was to gather up the line in folds in left-hand, 
holding the rod along the right side and extending under the 
forearm to the elbow. This steadied the rod and gave good 
casting power. 

By gathering up the line in the left hand in folds or plaits 
you can readily loop up fifty feet of line, and casting out as 
described before, drop your bait almost within a foot of any 
desired point, without a snarl or kink in the line. By closing 
the fingers over the line you can hold all you need for cast- 
ing. I often do this now, though possessing better tackle 
than anglers dreamed of in earlier days. 

An old Englishman named George put some wrinkles of 
this kind into my head, and they have stayed by me. He was 
a genuine cockney, and in spite of his continual assertions 
that "They do things better at 'ome," George did know 
how to lay out a line "fine and far off," as the Thames fish- 
ermen called it. 



376 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

I have seen him drop a hne lOO feet from the point where 
he was standing, without any exertion. I soon "caught on," 
and since that time have laid out a Hne in a way that even 
old George admired. 

Fishing up in Michigan with a party of Indiana friends, I 
had in the same boat a friend who used an Orvis combina- 
tion rod and a Milam reel — a successful fisherman and an 
enthusiast. The waters had been fished a great deal that 
summer, so our hopes for fish depended on the skill dis- 
played in casting. My reel was an Abbey & Imbrie click 
and drag. My friend was casting overhead, a style adopted 
from Dr. Henshall's methods in fishing for Black Bass. He 
caught some small Bass and Pickerel, but no large fish; yet 
we were in waters famous for the Northern Pike. 

My rod was a bethabara-wood, heavy for its size, but which 
would spring almost like steel. Putting on a large shiner for 
bait, and drawing out about fifty feet of line, I coiled it in 
my left hand as described; bringing my rod round to the 
right with a sharp swing, my bait was spinning in the air just 
a little above the water. The line uncoiling from my hand 
just as I wanted it, it dropped sixty feet away from me, tak- 
ing up all my slack; my friend's bait dropped about the same 
distance from him, his Milam reel giving him all the advan- 
tage. Not getting any strike, I again gathered up the line 
until almost close to the boat; elevating the tip and swing- 
ing the bait higher, slipping the drag off the reel, my line 
ran out and the bait dropped out about ninety feet, without 
any plashing. The first jerk I gave, the bait was seized; 
something left a big swirl on the surface of the water; the 
line ran out about ten feet and stopped. I let it go, gave the 
fish a chance to swallow the bait, and then struck sharp 
enough to set the hook. The fish resented this treatment, 
and went off on a tear. The reel buzzed, my line steamed 
as it tore through the standing guides; the weeds through 
which the fish passed were cut and floated to the top of the 



THE PIKE. 



377 



water. Throwing on the drag, and getting the pressure of my 
thumb on the plate of the reel, I snubbed him, and he bucked 
like a Broncho. He twisted and shook himself, and finally 
went to the bottom and sulked. My line was taut, but "nary 
a move" could I get out of him; the quivering, ringing sen- 
sation that comes from a taut line telegraphed that the fish 
was either trying to smash my hook, or worrying at the 
gimp snood. 

"Something's got to be did!" came from my Indiana friend. 
"How big is he.''" 

"I think a small Pike, from the way he's fighting." 

I pulled — he tugged ! I reel'd up — he backed out. Expect- 
ing every moment my line would part, I resorted to an 
artifice to scare him; slipping on a clearing ring on the taut 
line, I elevated my tip and down went the ring. 

"Look out! T ; he's going like a racer!" 

The ring was too much for him; to the right, then to left, 
and then up to the surface, a handsome Pike thirty inches if 
an inch; my friend began shouting: 

"He's a fine one! handle him carefully!" 

One more spurt, but my rod controlled him, and in a few 
moments he lay beside the boat, "played out." My friend 
lifted him, a finely marked Pike, a male fish, just a trifle 
over thirty inches long. 

In the vicinity of Edmore, Michigan, there is a chain of 
lakes that have an abundance of northern Pike in them, but 
you cannot get any sport fishing with fine tackle. The fish 
are "foolish." A pole, a clothes-line, a big triple hook, any 
kind of bait, a big jerk, a yank, and you could drop your pole, 
haul in your clothes-line, and pull on the raft a Pike weigh- 
ing from ten to thirty pounds. Put on a minnow, frog, 
mouse, piece of fat pork, or any kind of spoon, and you 
could get another big fish in a few moments. 

What fun is there in fishing, when three men can catch 
two hundred pounds of fish in three hours .^ and then cannot 



3/8 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

give them away! I want none of it ! It's barbaric butchery! 
In fishing with a single hook, you must insert the hook 
through the gills, out of the mouth, and leave the gimp 
snood to run along the side. A simple rubber band or piece 
of silk will fasten the snood and fish, so that you can use the 
bait for casting; but the best system is to use a lip-hook on 
your snood, and then slip a rubber band over the tail of the 
minnow, or to put the hook through the mouth and gills 
then hook the fish through the back just behind the dorsal 
fin, so that when a Pike seizes the minnow you can readily 
hook him. 

While fishing in Pike Lake, near to Duluth, with a strong 
line and a New York spring-steel hook, and fishing with green 
frog bait, a big fish took my frog. His strike and rush were so 
sharp — so surprising, that the spring of the rod in the recoil 
drove the steel into his lower jaw. The break was so quickly 
made that the reel gave one long scream; the fish threw 
himself clean out of the water, within twenty feet of us — a 
handsome fish almost three feet long. He gave a lash and a 
plunge as soon as he struck water, and away he went, the 
hook coming back to us in the boat almost straightened 
out. We were fishing for Bass, and had just dropped anchor 
in a bunch of yellow lilies; I got in my bait first; my friend 
sat dumb and amazed; we did not dream we should find a 
big Pike in these yellow lilies. 

Within a few days a northern Pike weighing eighteen 
pounds was killed in this" lake, whose jaws bore the marks and 
scars of several hooks that he had broken from. He had 
lived to be a noble-looking fish, but died an ignominious 
death. Some moss-back speared him! 

A few miles back of Traverse City, Michigan, lies a chain 
of lakes, famous amongst anglers as the home of the Esox. 
The nobilor and lucius have been caught there in such sizes 
and weight that seemed almost beyond belief. I saw a dead 
one that bore marks of having been speared; his length was 



THE PIKE. 379 

over two lengths of a two-feet rule, but he smelt so strong, 
that even by holding the nose we could only just slip the 
rule on him twice and then run for dear life! The stench 
was too much to investigate any further. 

Fishing in this same river one evening, we had caught 
some nice fish, when my boatmen said, "See that!" I looked, 
saw the circles extending outward until the ripples touched 
the boat; a new minnow was put on and fixed; the boat 
stopped and I cast out up-stream, a few feet above the cen- 
ter of the ripples. My minnow dropped splendidly; it scarcely 
touched the water before Esox had it, and ran. The river 
was full of roots and submerged logs. I had to strike or let 
him go. I struck sharply. 

"Let the boat go, Charley!" The boat drifted, and by sheer 
force I reversed my rod and hauled the fish into the chan- 
nel; then began the fun! The moment I gave him a slack 
line he plunged for the bottom, but I stopped him; then he 
made a rush for the banks, across and across the river for 
some minutes. I never handled a crazier, or so mad a fish; 
my rod bent so that I dare not count on the fish; he was 
full of fight, and kept it up until I had him close to the boat. 
Charley, my boatman, gave him a crack on the head across 
the eyes, with the butt of a paddle. This stunned him. In 
a second he was at my feet, and a knife into his spinal col- 
umn back of his head — a splendid fish, weighing about 
twelve pounds. 

Many anglers use a Salmon-gaff for handling Pike. They 
are splendid things in a boat where only two men who know 
how to use them are fishing. In the hands of many ordinary 
men you lose more fish by mis-strikes than you can catch 
with them. 

Esox lucius is diminishing in numbers, and especially in 
size. Better fishing appliances, and the pushing in of rail- 
roads into unfrequented lake countries, have opened up 
regions to the angler little dreamed of twenty years ago. The 



38o 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



ambition of lady anglers to join their husbands and to get 
the biggest Pike or Mascalonge in the camp, have all told 
against the genus lucius. -Any angler, man or woman, who 
has ever fought a ten-pound lucius, and landed him, is proud 
of the record. Such anglers don't call them snakes. 

It was not my intention to say anything about the cook- 
ing of the Pike, but my wife, who is by far my best camping 
companion in many a fishing trip, and who, woman-like, 
"knocks the biggest persimmons" when we are fishing, says: 
"You take the jacket off that long-face and I will give you a 
treat." We get the treat — baked Pike — the concomitants 
being some water, some butter, some pepper, and salt, and a 
dash of vinegar at some stage of the cooking. Yum! it's a 
dish fit for the gods! 




THE WALL-EYED PIKE. 



BY A. A. MOSHER. 



I^HE Wall-eyed Pike or Pike-Perch, so-called, belongs to 
the Acanthopherous species bearing, as the name signifies, 
- spines. These fish have various names, in various locali- 
ties. In the North-west, and along the Ohio and Tennesee 
rivers, they are, for some unknown reason, called Salmon, and 
many of those who thus misname them will insist, most 
tenaciously, that they are Salmon, and no amount of argu- 
ment will convince them to the contrary. This reminds n.e 
of the "Trout" in the Southern states that are, as every well- 
informed angler knows, Black Bass. 

The Wall-eyed Pike is gregarious, nearly always running 
together, in schools of greater or less numbers, and when 
fishing for them, if you get one Wall-eye you will generally 
:get more. 

They are found in most Northern waters, and in some are 
very numerous; are eager biters, and not particular as to 
bait, taking almost anything that is offered. They spawn in 
spring on the cobble-stones or pebbles that line the shores 
of the lakes or streams. 

They appear in large schools at this time, the bottom 
frequently being covered by them. Their eggs are very 
glutinous — stick fast to anything they touch, and do not 
become detached (unless by violence) till hatched out. There 
are, in some of our lakes and rivers, some large specimens 

3«i 



382 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

of this fish, weighing as high as thirty pounds; these usually 
are found in deep holes where they can secrete themselves 
under sunken logs or the banks. These big fellows are gen- 
erally of a rusty color; the edges of their scales are sharp 
and rough. There is a good deal of difference in the color 
of these fish in different waters; in some lakes, especially in 
the "Lake Park" region of Minnesota, where they are found 
in great numbers — some of them (and in some lakes most of 
them) are dark russet on the back, this color gradually fad- 
ing down the sides till it blends with the white on the belly. 

The difference in color in different individuals is so marked 
that one is often tempted to believe them to be of different 
species. They all have however that distinctive mark 
belonging to this fish, the tvhite tip at the lower caudal 
extremity; this is always found in the true Pike-Perch, or 
Wall-eyed Pike. There is another member of the same fam- 
ily called the "Rock Pike." I have never seen it in the West, 
but in eastern waters, especially in Lake Champlain, they 
are quite numerous. 

This fish is darker, rounder and smaller than the common 
Wall-eye. They are frequently found on the rocks lying 
perfectly still. 

The flesh of the fish is firm, white and of fine flavor. It is 
not often they take a hook; we used to spear them at night. 

The common Wall-eye may occasionally, in time of high 
water, be found ascending small creeks, that empty into 
lakes, and they will then crowd up through grass till their 
backs are out of the water; they only do this in the spring 
freshets, and then only when the water is uncommonly high, 
which leads me to believe that they are seeking other waters 
as these creeks when they are thus found have their source 
in some large slough. The fish are often found in such 
sloughs, after these creeks are dry. 

These fish, in still water, are not good game, as a general 
thing, though I once caught one in "Big Twin Lake," in Wis- 



THE WALL-EVED PIKE. 



383 




384 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

consin, that was game enough for anyone. I was trolHng 
for Mascalonge, and had caught a twenty-nine and one- 
half-pounder with which I had a fight of an hour and a-half 
before I got him in the boat, when I had a tremendous 
strike. Down went the fish into deep water, and there he 
staid. I told my guide I did not know how big he was, but 
was satisfied he was larger than the one we had caught yes- 
terday. We pulled for shoal water, about half a mile away, 
bui the fish kept down in spite of my efforts to bring him to 
the surface. 

We finally stopped and reeled in. It was slow and difficult 
work, but he finally showed up and it was only a six and one- 
half-pound Wall-eye! How a fish of that size could offer so 
much resistance was, and is yet, a mystery. 

Take these fish in swift water and they are as full of vim, 
and fight, as any fish, except the Brook Trout. 

As an edible fish the Wall-eye may be classed A No i. 
The flesh is white, firm and flaky. Steamed, baked, broiled 
or fried in butter, they are hard to beat. 

There is no place in the United States, to my knowledge, 
where the Wall-eye is more plentiful than in the lake region 
of Northern Wisconsin, along the line of the Milwaukee, 
Lake Shore and Western Ry. 

This road, runs clear around and incloses hundreds of lakes, 
where not only the Wall-eye is plentiful, but Mascalonge, 
Bass, Pickerel and Trout are found in great numbers. 

In 1868, in company with the Hon. D. O. Finch, of Des 
Moines, Iowa, and a gentleman by the name of Deaver, I 
went to a small inlet on the west side of Spirit Lake, in Dick- 
inson County, Iowa, to fish for Wall-eyes and Pickerel. We 
had poles, cut from iron-wood, near the lake, coarse lines, 
and big hooks. We had no boat, so we rolled up our trou- 
sers and waded out to the edge of deep water, where the little 
inlet purled over the shelving pebbles into the lake. We had 
a fin or two to commence with, but ere long we had all the 
fins we wanted. 



THE WALL-EYED PIKE. 385 

Sport? Yes, we had it, and plenty of it. No sooner would 
the hook strike the water than with a whirl and a splash a 
Pike or Pickerel would take it; then the fun would commence. 
Now this way and now that he would go, making the tough 
iron-wood bend nearly to the butt; and away we would go for 
the shore. 

Various gyrations of Mr. Pike, or Mr. Pickerel, as the 
case might be, would detain us more or less on the way, but 
in the end we slid him out on the pebbly shore. 

Finch nearly went crazy. When he had hooked one, he 
would stand, legs wide apart, eyes sticking out, both arms 
apparently all elbows, and let it play awhile. Then he 
would start for the shore, with his pole over his shoulders, 
dragging his fish, and finally sliding him out on the shore. 
He would square himself in front of his victim and deliver 
a lecture — quotations from Latin, Greek, French, Demos- 
thenes and Cicero and other ancient heroes. The classics 
were reviewed as he fired ancient history at the poor fish; 
then he would extract the hook, fix his bait and go in again. 

The fish run large, several of the Pickerel tipping the 
beam at ten to twelve pounds each, and the Pike averaging 
some four pounds. We returned a good many of them to 
the water for we had all we could use within a few minutes 
after we commenced fishing. 

We fished some three hours and took home seventy-five 
Pike only. That afternoon will long be remembered by all 
of us — as one of the most enjoyable of our lives. 
25 




386 



THE PICKEREL. 



BY W. DAVID TOMLIN. 



w 



'HEN sunny youth or lovely girlhood takes to fishing; 
when woman, "spurred with a vaulting ambition," de- 
sires even to eclipse her husband — when the soul that 
looks out of the windows is growing dim ! when the grinders 
cease because they are few; when the ambitions of earth wane, 
and the days slip almost unconsciously by, and of the loves 
of former years that remain — the love of boyhood; the 
strong love of a strong manhood; the declining love of well- 
spent life — the desire comes once again to go-a-fishing 

and the slippered feet are once again guided gently to a boat 
and made comfortable, and — and to fishing the old sire goes. 

All the memories of boyhood's days return again, and the 
cunning of his hand comes to him once more; he recounts 
mcidents of many years fishing lore, but it is of Pickerel fish- 
ing. 

To the boy just beginning his piscatorial career, the Pickerel 
is the fish of all fish. The "Beauty that draws us with a 
single hair," does not at first attempt to inveigle the wary 
trout; but the Pickerel is fair game — and many a bout does 
fair womanhood have with reticulatus before she attempts 
to fling a line for either Bass or Trout. 

But what is a pickerel.'' 

"English as she's spoken," says Pickerel or Jack is a young 
Pike. This idea was fostered by some transplanted Anglo- 

387 



388 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Americans who thus tried to engraft English names on the 
fauna of the American waters; but Cope, Gill, Thompson 
LeSeur, Kirtland, and Jordan have taught even boys bet- 
ter; they know more than their fathers did — the difference 
between the members of the Esox family. 

E. reiiculatus (LeSeur). Common Eastern Pickerel; Green 
Pike. The snout much prolonged ; front of eye about midway 
in head; eye more than three times in snout; coloration, 
green; sides with a net work of brown streaks. 

Streams of Atlantic States abundant, but not found far in 
the interior. 

E. cypho (Cope). Vulgate Humpbacked Pickerel, probably 
best known by the elevated back and broad swollen ante-dor- 
sal region. Colors usually plain (olive green) or somewhat 
reticulate. Western States. 

E. Americanus (Gmelin). Banded Pickerel; Trout Pickerel. 
The snout much shorter than in the preceding; eye much 
nearer snout than opercular margin. Color: dark green; sides 
with about twenty blackish curved bars; scarcely reticulated. 
Length, rarely a foot long. Home, Atlantic Streams. 

E. Salmoneiis (Rafinesque). Little Pickerel: Western Trout 
Pickerel. Size and general form of preceding, (about a 
foot long,) or more slender. Color, olivaceous green above, 
tinting to a white below; sides with many reticulations and 
curved streaks, instead of bars; a black streak in front of 
eye as well as below. Western streams — abundant. Resem 
bles retiadatiis more than A?nericanus. — Jordan. 

Comparing the rcticiilatns and hicius, anyone can readily 
distinguish the points of difference defined in the descriptions 
of Rafinesque, Cope, and LeSeur; and the Pickerel once 
out of the water, his relations with the Pike family are 
established. 

The Pickerel are spring-spawners hence boys see them just 
as soon as the ice has cleared out, the snow-water gone and 
the warm days come. They are found in shoal water 
amongst weeds, or where the branches of trees are project- 
ing from the shore into the water. Here they are found in 
pairs, gently swimming backward and forward in the stream, 



THE PICKEREL. 



389 




390 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

rubbing side by side until the female is ready to spawn. 
They are careless fish — leaving the spawn to take care of 
itself until the gentle undulations of the stream and the 
warmth of the sun's rays produce the young fry. 

As soon as these are able to take care of themselves, they 
show the family likeness, and begin their bold predacious 
attacks on the fry of the silver chub and shiner family. They 
are greedy feeders, and from the time they are the length of the 
little finger, the Pickerel are looking for something nice to 
eat. 

Years ago, ere the appliances for fishing had improved to 
their present stage, I was fishing with a crude, jointed rod, 
home-made— the rod a simple home-spun affair — and was 
enjoying the sharp vicious strikes of Pickerel that were 
abundant in the local waters, forgetting that my ancient 
enemy, a pugnacious and well-developed ram, was in the 
pasture lots. His butting propensities had caused a declara- 
tion of war between us; boy like, I enjoyed many a bout 
with him, but always had to cut and run, for he would chase 
and butt at me until my wind was exhausted. Being fleet of 
foot I could outrun him every time. 

I was quietly casting across stream into some dog-tail 
weeds, where we could always find Pickerel, when hearing the 
familiar b-a-a-h-h! behind me, I turned, and there was my 
enemy, head up and "sniffing the battle afar off." I had just 
been congratulating myself that I was safe, shaking my fist 
and laughing at him, because another stream ran between 
him and myself, about forty feet wide. 

A Pickerel took my bait and was running down stream. I 
was fishing just then: the ram did not trouble me any. 
After playing this fish a few minutes I landed him, and put 
on another minnow, had cast out a few yards down stream, 
and struck another fish; he was gamy and gave me plenty 
of fight. 

Absorbed with my fish I forgot my surroundings. The 



THE PICKEREL. 



391 




392 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Pickerel was fighting to get my line round some of the roots 
that run out into the stream. The hook held good but my 
fish was too cunning for me; a quick movement and my line 
was in a tangle. I stooped to disentangle the line, my head 
well over the river, when a fearful butt, a plunge, a splash, 
a yell, a sputter, and a half-choking boy came to the surface. 
The moment he got his breath, there was a string of threats 
and vows of death and vengeance against the old ram. Ha- 
tred and scorn could not wipe out this bitter insult. If it 
must be a fight, let us have it out now; but the ram was 
rampant; never an inch would he yield, not even to let the 
boy get out of the water. Hadn't he put in some good licks 
and run up the pasture, and jumped at the end of the stream 
to come at me.^ Hadn't he come to accept the challenge.? 
Hadn't he took me at my word and downed me? and I was 
all this time swimming. Yes he had got the best of me ; but 
I must get out or drown! Making for the bank, I seized the 
butt of my rod, detached it, and as Mr. Ram charged, I gave 
him a crack across his nose that halted him. 

I was out on the bank in a second, and ready for the sec- 
ond charge — in rebuttal. I cracked him one over the head, 
and then began a picnic! 

I was cold and shivering when I came out of that mill- 
stream, but in a few minutes my clothes were steaming from the 
violence of my exertion. He had ram'd me once, and tried 
many times to again butt me into the river. I could swim 
like a duck, but was opposed to being driven into the water 
like a musk-rat. Both of us were tired out, and my only hope 
of victory was in hanging on the horns of the brute — and 
getting in whacks^ when I could, on his head and sides. 

I let go and lifted my club; but he turned tail, and ran. I 
loosed my fish line and fortunately the Pickerel was still 
there. I took him in, rod and line, but the butt was a total 
wreck. Taking my two fish I made my way to the house, 
where mother, meeting me at the door, with wondering eyes 
exclaimed — "You'll be drowned yet!" 



THE PICKEREL. 



393 



No wonder! nose bleeding, hands torn and scratched, 
pants spHt into ribbons — but I had my fish, and kept a close 
mouth. The ram was a valuable animal, of choice breed, 
and I knew that in case he died there was a choice licking in 
store for me. "Silence is golden," sometimes, and I kept 
mum. For years my old enemy and I understood each other 
thoroughly. 

Rams seldom die, unless killed. I could always thereafter 
fish that stream again unmolested; but let me go out of the 
pasture gate without a stick, and the ram was rampant. 

HOW CAN I CATCH PICKEREL.? 

With anything — a walking-stick, and a string with a spoon- 
hook on it — or with a long stick cut beside the stream, a 
tow line as large as your little finger, and a big hook impal- 
ing a mouse, a frog, a piece of fat pork; a slice of bacon, 
with the outer skin left on and cut about two inches lone 
shaping the bait like a minnow. The Pickerel is a fool fish 
when hungry, and I am inclined to think will jump at even 
bare hooks, if only they spin. But there is as much concen- 
trated essence of fun in fishing for Pickerel, with fine tackles, 
as you can get out of the mailed warrior, boasting the grand 
lineage of a Microptcriis Dolouiicii ; and the former fish com- 
pletely puts in shade the StizostctJiiuni vitrctan, for fighting 
to the last gasp. 

With a Bethabara wood rod, whose tips would slip into a 
barley straw, a fine Trout line, a rubber click-reel, and a 
single Sproat or Sneck-bend hook, impaling a Storer's min- 
now, or silver shiner through the back, I have hooked and 
landed Pickerel, after fighting them for several minutes. No 
Trout ever gave more fun than Pickerel will, when they do 
take a notion to rise to a fly. Large gaudy flies, allowed to sink 
beneath the surface, are attractive lure for any of the reticn- 
latiis family. 

Where cold, clear streams abound, the Pickerel give an 



394 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

amount of pleasure equal to that obtained in angling for 
the Pike. The savage seizing of a minnow bait; the rush, 
for fifty or sixty feet ; the strike, and the sharp struggle that 
ensues, all engage an angler's attention, and give him a most 
delightful occupation for the time. 

My own system of fishing for the Pickerel is similar to that 
of Pike-fishing — laying out as long a line as possible, gather- 
ing the line in the hand in the same manner, covering all of 
one hundred feet with the line, and fishing up-stream. While 
fishing in waters peculiarly the home of the Pickerel, I have 
anchored a boat, cast out a line fifty or sixty feet, kept the 
bait off the bottom, and moving all the time; and could have 
filled the boat with fish if I had been so disposed. 

While fishing in a Minnesota Lake one summer evening, 
at the mouth of a small but quick-running stream, I found a 
school of Trout-Pickerel — common in this lake, and a hand- 
some, clean fish. 

I was fishing for Wall-eyed-Pike at the time — a fish often 
caught in this lake, weighing five to eight pounds — and used 
a pair of Bass flies, the "Oriole" and "Black-and-Gold". 

At the first cast I made the fish came to the surface by the 
half dozen. I saw they were "Banded and spotted," but 
could not for the moment place them. I knew they were 
not Wall-eyes, but could not for the moment determine what 
they were. 

My second cast was made, and away went my fish. In a few 
moments I saw that I had hooked a second fish, and they 
began pulling two ways at once. Though not large fish, I 
had all I could do to save my rod. Gradually bringing them 
to the boat, I found one hooked safely and the fly outside of 
its mouth; the other was hooked just above its tail — foul- 
hooked, but I managed to save both. For an hour I had 
all the fun I wanted, and could have caught fifty Pickerel 
during the time, all with big Bass flies. I could not eat so 
many; there was no one near to give them to; so we moved 



THE PICKEREL. 395 

away from the stream, found a bank where the Wall-eyes 
were feeding, and put in the balance of the evening, until 
nearly ten o'clock, fishing for these with flies and grass- 
hoppers. 

Fishing in Douglass County, Minnesota, during June, 
1888, I found a stream running into a lake, and some boys 
having "dead loads of fun," as they expressed it, fishing for 
Bass and Pickerel. I secured a boat, pulled out from shore 
until I found the channel-bank, a shelving ledge, that dropped 
from about four feet deep down to about twelve feet ; dropped 
my anchor in the four feet of water, and then run out until I 
could lish in the deeper part. I had minnows for bait, but 
wanted to try for Bass with flies, as they took the bait gamily 
and seemed inclined to rise for it. Putting on a Cheney and 
Black-and-Gold, I cast out a few times and found the spot 
where Pickerel were lying. I hooked two fish and played 
them carefully. When getting them to the boat I found a 
Pickerel and a Wall-eye on the hooks. I spent an hour at 
that spot, and caught thirty pounds of fish, distributing them 
amongst the boys who were fishing on the bridge crossing 
the stream and who had not caught anything. Then lifting 
my anchor I drifted out into deeper water, but the Pickerel 
seemed to follow me, for at every cast a Pickerel rose to my 
flies. I would skitter the flies along the surface of the water, 
when flip! swish! would come several fish at the same time. 

I had to pull up my anchor and get! — the only time in a 
life-time when Pickerel were too many for me. But what 
was the use of catching them.? the hotels were full of fish: 
the farmers caught all they wanted; even the boys cried 
"enough!" 

Shortly before pulling up anchor I hooked, on a dark 
brown fly, a Pickerel weighing about one and a half pounds. 
While fighting him, my gut leader somehow caught another 
fish; it pulled and tugged, squirmed and twisted, until I 
expected to lose flies and leader, but by handling them gently 



396 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

I brought them to the boat, when I found the leader had 
caught into the gill and the dropper had twisted around the 
gill. I dropped the unhooked fish into the water again, and 
pulled for my hotel, having been surfeited, for once in my 
life, with Pickerel-fishing. 



THE WHITE PERCH. 



BY FRED MATHER. 



I'^O-NIGHT my banjo is attuned in a minor key to sing of a 
minor fish, which, in some lands, would take higher rank 
- than it does on our Atlantic coast where it is native. All 
fishes which take the fly deserve to be classed above those 
that can be lured only with bait. 

A man in the audience here suggests that the banjo is not 
properly strung, and intimates that the White Perch, which 
he calls Rocciis Americamis, would, under this ruling, be 
classed as superior game to its big brother, the Striped Bass, 
or Rockfish, which it pleaseth him to speak of as Rocciis 
lincatiis. This interruption cannot be noticed now, for one 
cannot improvise without having some hours wherein to do 
it, and, had he been a friend, he would have warned me 
some days in advance that he had a plan to bring down the 
house with my answering verse. As it is, the head usher 
gets the sign that I do not know the person, and he is ejected 
for disorderly conduct. The dignity of the profession must 
be maintained at all hazards, and my course is based on 
what lago says of Roderigo: 

"For I mine own gained knowledge should profane, 
If I would time expend with such a snipe." 

This is a favorite gag that I always get off on a snipe- 
shooting companion when I miss a bird, but have not sprung 

397 



398 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

it on the fishermen before. I learned it from Edwin Booth- 
he has made it a chestnut to his audiences, but I might 
work it in as original in the dime museums until the fat man 
takes to applying it to the living skeleton; that would para- 
lyze it for future use. 

Once in a while I get a sore-headed fit but it passes like a 
thunder storm, leaving a better atmosphere behind it. Such 
a fit comes on when I hear, or read of, a good fish being 
denounced as a "vulgarian" because it is not "first-class." 
In Europe it is said that, only princes and Americans ride 
first class, and I have seen the time that a cattle-car would 
have been welcomed as a means of abolishing space, while 
"counting railroad ties" was the only alternative between 
walking when "the ghost did not walk" and paying railroad 
fares. Therefore I do not rage with the heathen, but accept 
the best that is to be had. Years ago, when living in New 
York City, I have gone to Italian opera, on off-nights when 
there was no sparring at Harry Hill's or dog fight at Harry 
Jenning's, and really enjoyed it as a change, on the same 
principle as the old European Professor who rode in the 
third-class coach because there was no fourth. 

After reading the above there appears to be a digression, 
but foot-paths are always more attractive than highways; 
and if I can't digress, then, to use the simile of the beginning, 
I had best let down the banjo bridge and "uncork." The 
point that was intended to be made is this: It is the fashion 
in this country to decry certain fishes, that are so far above 
many of those that both ancient and modern British anglers 
fish for that it has become necessary to defend some of the 
New World forms which have made the heart of Izaak Walton 
rejoice. First in this class is the Big-mouthed Black Bass, 
which a few still persist in calling "Oswego" Bass (how I hate 
that name!) It is a grand game fish, and is more certain to 
rise to the fly than the Small-mouth, to which its detractors 
always compare it. Where is the other duffer in the audi- 



THE WHITE PERCH. 



399 




t-^irftV^ 



400 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ence now who insists that the banjo never was in tune? If 
he interrupts I will refer him to Dr. Henshall, and if he can 
find anything that the apostle of the Black Bass has said 
that will sustain his position, or controvert mine, then we 
confess judgment and invoke mercy from the court. 

There was no digression in the last paragraph, although 
one was attempted. The fact is that some American fishes 
have not received their proper rank as game, and the Big- 
mouthed Black Bass was instanced as a most glaring case in 
which a noble fish has been actually abused and reviled. In 
the subject of my song, the White Perch, no such claim is 
made; it has simply been neglected. I get some fair sport 
out of it when the Trout streams are far off, railroad fares 
high, and time, which was not made only for slaves and set- 
ting-hens, is limited. The White Perch was one of the 
things that I pursued in childhood, and in advancing years it 
still finds favor. Like a poor man it fails to receive justice. 

"Here's a fish hangs in the net like a poor man's right 
in the law; 'twill hardly come out." — Pericles, Act it., Sc. i. 

"The imperious seas breed monsters; for the dish, poor 
tributary rivers as sweet fish." — Cyinbcliiie, Act iv., Sc. 2. 

Often while playing my favorite part of a truant school- 
boy — a role which pleased a few chums but never met favor 
from parental authority — has a small White Perch shown its 
silvery sides and bristling spines between the surface of the 
water and the deck of some craft at dock on the upper Hud- 
son. We boys fished on general principles, in those days. 
There were no rods, lines or hooks for special fishes; we 
went to the village grocery and bought a few knots of the 
cheapest line, half a dozen hooks — two for a cent, pounded 
out a piece of lead for a sinker, and there we were, equipped 
for several days fishing for ten cents! 

Floats and poles we despised, because as our oracle, John 
Atwood, said: "They aint no use, 'cause when you got a pole 
you just yank 'em out so quick you don't have any fun; 



THE WHITE PERCH. 4OI 

but when you haul 'em in lively on a hand-line you've got 
time to feel 'em wiggle, and to wonder what you've got." 

This, then, became our fishing law, for John had laid it 
down, and we wanted to "feel 'em wiggle," whether Chub, 
Sun-fish, White Perch, Spawn-eater, Bull-head or Eel; for, 
as before said, we fished on general principles for anything 
that had an appetite for worms. How our blood stirred 
when a half-pound Eel made us think we had a monster 
Perch or perhaps a Bass! Ah me! what fun we all had when 
boys. "Fun" was the word then; as we get older it becomes 
"sport." 

The Perch of those days — we will drop distinctive names 
now — seldom grew above six inches in length in the Hudson, 
about Albany, and was like burnished silver, a brilliancy that 
it loses in brackish water, where it breeds and grows to its 
limit. Then we did not know that learned men would dis- 
pute about its name, whether it should be Morone or Roccus 
Ainericaniis\ and it is possible that our interest would not 
have been thoroughly aroused to the important fact if we 
had. We would probably have asked John Atwood about 
it. John was at least a dozen years old, and if any person 
knew more about fish than John, we did not know who he 
was. He could make a bob for Eels, snare Suckers, and 
could tell whether a nibble was made by a Sun-fish or a 
Perch; and as for names of fish, bless you! he knew them all. 

In later years the books tell me that this Perch is found in 
brackish waters along the Atlantic Coast of North America, 
from Cape Cod to Florida, and I have learned that its com- 
mon name is shared with a worthless fish which dwells in the 
Great Lakes, and with some other fishes either inland or on 
the Pacific Coast; but my song is not of them. 

The White Perch had passed away into the realm of boy- 
hood recollections by reason of years of wandering inland, 
where it is unknown, and the fly-rod had displaced the hand- 
line which John Atwood had taught was the highest form of 
26 



402 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

sportsmanship, when suddenly this Perch appeared as a fish 
that readily took the fly, and was therefore elevated from the 
realm of boyish fun to "legitimate sport." And this is the 
way it happened: An invitation to fish for Black Bass, in a 
private pond on Long Island, had been accepted, and several 
flies were cast, one evening toward the close of July, without 
reward. Flies were changed and position was shifted sev- 
eral times, until the combination was a clear spot in some 
weeds and a red ibis and gray drake on the leader. Then 
arise; my boatman irreverently said: "arise my soul, arise!"' 
The reel sang as the morning stars never did, and a silver- 
sided fish leaped into the air. It was not a Bass, but some- 
thing strange; the spring of the rod soon checked the stranger, 
and the reel began to draw us into closer relationship. As 
we were approaching each other a second fish seized the 
other fly, and then the real contest began. My ordinary 
practice is to fish with one fly if the fish will take it, and to 
put on a second one only when they seem indifferent to what 
is offered. Two fish on a single gut do not represent two 
souls with but a single thought, although they may have two 
mouths which jerk as one, and they often part company 
when their desires to separate are synchronal; hence the 
experienced angler seldom cares to risk his leader in a con- 
test with a double, and, if it is repeated, will remove one fly 
and content himself with one at a time. A school had been 
struck — for this perch is gregarious, and is usually present in 
numbers or is entirely absent; and soon a fine fish was struck 
that leaped into the air three times before it was brought to 
hand — a habit not mentioned, to my knowledge, by angling 
authors, none of whom mention fly-fishing for it. 

Norris says: "Frank Forester, in his book on angling, dis- 
misses it (the Perch), after a slight notice, as 'not sufficiently 
important to merit more particular notice. ' The latter gen- 
tleman missed much, by not becoming acquainted with our 
little friend Pallidiis.'''' But even Norris, the Nestor of 



THE WHITE PERCH. 



403 



American anglers in his day, only mentions our fish as inhab- 
iting the estuaries and fresh waters that run into the sea, and 
does not speak of its capture with the fiy. Scott, who was 
not much of a fly-fisher, if at all, says: "This fish is peculiarly 
adapted for the sport of juveniles," and after recommending 
its capture with light Bass tackle, further says: "A White 
Perch which weighs but a pound affords sport with light 
tackle, and, when weighing three pounds, it plays very vig- 
orously." No doubt! I never took one that would weigh 
two pounds, and have had good sport with them. Do you 
ask about tackle.' A Trout rig, I use that for everything, a 
ten and one-half foot split-bamboo rod of ten ozs., a water- 
proof silk line (heavy "D," I think,) and an eight-foot gut 
leader, with either a red ibis, gray drake, Parmacheene-belle, 
royal coachman or other bright fly, dressed on a No. 5 or 6 
Sproat hook. My rod is heavy enough to cast a small frog, 
if I condescended to use bait, or to handle a larger Black 
Bass than ever struck it; and with that rig I would like to 
strike a ten-pound Salmon. True, it might be a bad day for 
the "rig," but if the fly had done its full duty and neither 
man nor age had impaired the strength of the leader, it would 
delight me to see a ten-pound fish, of any species, smash the 
rod or break the line. This rod has stood the severest strain 
that a rod can get, and that is in tournament casting, and 
the necessary preliminary practice; and it has won prizes, 
in other hands. But all this is a digression, provoked by an 
inviting foot-path across the untrodden fields of fly-fishing 
for White Perch, and just how to get back into the forsaken 
highway is a problem. My evil genius suggests that I give 
a technical description of the White Perch; beginning with 
its systematic name, or names, and after giving all the syn- 
onyms, and a map of its fin-rays, to enumerate its scales in 
both lateral and vertical rows, ending with its dental and 
digestive apparatus, which all readers will acknowledge to be 
the product of a learned man but will not read. A better 



404 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

adviser, me jndicc, says that if it is certain that the read- 
er will skip all that, then I had better do so. I ask my 
good angel what to substitute, and intimate that 1 have 
already said all that is necessary on the subject of fishing 
with the fly for White Perch ; but my mentor says that so 
far the fishing has been in mill-ponds, where they are rarely 
found, and has not touched upon the taking of them in the 
brackish waters where they most abound; and suggests that 
something be said of that. Now there is nothing more to 
be said on the subject; you can take the fish wherever you 
find it, with either fly or bait, and it is no part of my purpose 
to tell about taking them with worms, pieces of fish, crickets, 
or other gross lures which appeal to their baser appetites. 
With Dr. Bethune, "I have long since washed my hands of 
the dirty things," and will only say, do not put a water-proof 
silk line into salt water, because it will soften and ruin it ; 
use linen or other material. 

If after reading "this bald unjointed chat" there is a desire 
for a serious consideration of the merits of the fish, take down 
Goode's "American Fishes," and read his last paragraph, p. 
38; it gives the White Perch a high grade, and recommends 
it to "the easy-going British Angler of the Waltonian type, 
to whom the pleasure of the rural scenery and quiet outing 
is of more moment than the strength and voracity of the 
fishes," etc. Goode and Norris are the only writers that I 
recall who have given this game fish a fairly decent notice. 
But this yarn has been spun too long and I am reminded of 
Edgar's remark (King Lear, Act ii., Sc. 4): "Frateretto 
calls me, and tells me, Nero is an angler in the lake of dark- 
ness." And thereby hangs a tale! "To this complexion may 
we come at last." How many of us can plead not guilty to 
Caesar's charge against Antony: 

"He fishes, drinks, and wastes the lamps of night in rev- 
el .?" 

If there is any moral to be drawn from what has been 



THE WHITE PERCH. 4O5 

written I would much like to know it, for I assure you that 
none was intended; believing, with the servant in Romeo and 
Juliet (Act i., Sc. 2), "that the shoemaker should meddle with 
his yard, and the tailor with his last, the fisher with his pen- 
cil, and the painter with his nets," I will put the banjo in its 
case and no longer mar the harmony of the night, lest some 
one say with Hotspur: 

"I had rather hear a brazen can'stick turned, 
Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree." 

The ditty has been hoarsely sung, the curtain rung down; 
the lights are out — Good Night! 




406 



THE YELLOW BASS, WHITE BASS, ROCK BASS, 

CALICO BASS, CRAPPIE, YELLOW PERCH 

AND OTHER "BOYS' FISHES." 



BY DAVID STARR JORDAN. 



THE SAUGER — Stizostedium canadeuse {Q. H. Smith). 

Description. — Body elongate, more terete than in the Wall- 
eye, with the back broad and scarcely compressed; depth of 
the body four and one-half to five times in length; head quite 
pointed, about three and one-half in length, slope of the pro- 
file greater than in the Wall-eye ; eye smaller, five to five and 
one-half times in the head; mouth rather smaller, the lower 
jaw included; maxillary reaching to opposite posterior margin 
of eye; opercle with a sharp, flat spine, usually a smaller one 
celow it, and an obscure one above; sometimes two or three 
smaller ones below, often none; the position and number of 
these spines extremely variable; specimens preopercle strongly 
serrate, the lower spines hooked forward; cheeks usually 
scaled — the hinder third, or less, sometimes naked; median 
furrow on top of head closely scaled. Coloration paler and 
more translucent, the shades less blended than in the Wall- 
eye; olive gray above, sides considerably brassy or pale orange, 
with much black mottling; the black gathered into several 
•definite dark areas, the most distinct of these being opposite 
the second dorsal; two others fainter, at each extremity of 
the spinous dorsal, and one at base of caudal ; these blotches 
are irregular and diffuse, but very characteristic; young spec- 
imens are pale orange, with broad black shades; spinous 
dorsal, with two or three rows of round black spots, one of 
each row on the membrane between each pair of spines; indis- 
tinct blotch on posterior part of the fin; a large black blotch 
at base of pectorals; second dorsal with about three rows of 
irregular dark spots; caudal yellowish and dusky, almost 

40-] 



408 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

barred. Fin-rays: dorsal XII, 1-17, varying to XIII, i-t8; 
anal II, 12; lateral line with ninety-two-ninety-eight scales; 
pyloric caeca four to seven, four of them larger than the rest, 
of different lengths, all small and shorter than the stomach; 
the usual number is six, but the two small ones are some- 
times one or both absent, sometimes duplicated. Length of 
adult 10 to 15 inches. 

EVERYWHERE to the North, from Quebec to the Ohio 
River and on north-westward to Montana, wherever the 
great Wall-eye goes, there is found its little brother, the 
Sanger. Like the Wall-eye, it is a long, slim, swift, pirate- 
rigged fish, with a mouth well armed with the sharpest of teeth. 
It is a fish of finer texture than the Wall-eye, richly shaded 
with yellow, and translucent when held up to the light. The 
Sauger ranks as a food fish lower than the Wall-eye, and is 
usually classed by the lake fishermen as a "soft fish," while the 
Wall-eye is unquestionably a hard one. But the difference 
may come solely from the fact that the Sauger grows to a small 
size, seldom or never more than eighteen inches in length, 
and oftener not more than a foot. It is a fish of lakes and quiet 
rivers, often found on sandy bottoms, hence its name of 
"Sand Pike," heard in many localities. It is however not a 
Pike, and the name Sauger which belongs to no other fish is 
the best name that anglers can use for it. The very worst name 
for either species is the name "Salmon." In fact, for an 
angler to call any spiny-rayed fish a "Salmon," is an 
acknowledgment on his part that he is no angler at all, 
but simply a fish hunter to whom all fishes are so much meat, 
and who has no care for niceties in language, or for nicety 
in his work. The fact that the uneducated people of various 
Southern States who have never seen a Salmon, suppose the 
Pike-perch to be such, is not a justification for those who 
know better. 

So far as the game-qualities of the Sauger are concerned, 
I know nothing which will distinguish him from the Wall-eye 
or the Perch. He is a carnivorous and voracious fish, not 
likely to let anything escape which seems to him good to eat. 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 



409 




41 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

THE SUN-FISHES — CentrarcJiidcB. 

Every boy east of the Rocky Mountains begins his career 
as a real angler with the Sun-fish. He may have caught 
Horned Dace or Shiners with an angle-worm on a crooked 
pin, but to catch such fishes even the smallest boy knows is 
not angling. He feels his first real angler's enthusiasm when, 
seated on the projecting roots of the big sycamore tree, at 
the "old swimming-hole," he sees this little strutting fish, 
round as a dollar and resplendent in orange and green, trying 
to keep off intruders from its nest of gravel and sand. He 
throws his bait in the direction of the nest. The little fish 
sees a new enemy and makes a quick rush at the bait. 
The cork bobs excitedly. Excitement seizes the boy, and the 
little fish is the first prize of the young angler. 

If he lives in the East or the North, the Sun-fish he takes 
will be the old-fashioned Sunny or Pumpkin-seed, Lepomis 
gibbosus, the brightest and most active of them all, although 
not the largest. Should he live in the South-west, some of the 
other species will fall to his lot; but all the genuine Sun-fishes 
stand in the same relation to their friend, the boy. Let me 
quote from Professor Goode's admirable account of the 
Youthful Fisherman: 

"The 'Pumpkin seed' and the Perch are the first trophies 
of the boy-angler. Many are the memories of truant days 
dreamed away by pond or brook-side, with twine, pole and 
pin-hook, and of the slow homeward trudge, doubtful what 
his reception will be at home; pole gone, line broken, hook 
lost, the only remnant of the morning's glory a score of lean, 
sun-dried Perches and Sunnies, and, mayhap, a few Eels and 
Bull-heads, ignominiously strung through the gills upon a 
willow withe, and trailing, sometimes dropping from weary 
hands, in the roadside dust. 

"Then in later youth came the excursion to some distant 
pond; the early start, long before sunrise, the cane-rods trailing 
over the tail-board of the wagon, the long drive between 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS FISHES. 4 1 I 

fresh forests and dewy meadows, the interested faces at the 
wayside windows. Then at the pond the casting of the seine 
for minnow-bait, the embarkation in the boat, the careful 
adjustment of sinker and float, and the long, delightful, lazy 
day, floating over jungles of Eel-grass and meadows of lily 
pads; now pulling in by the score the Shiners, Pumpkin-seeds 
and Perch; now passing hour after hour without a bite. 

"Just as the nightingale and the lark, though eminent 
among the lesser song-birds of Europe, would, if native to 
America, be eclipsed by the feathered musicians of our groves 
and meadows, the Perch and Sun-fish yielded to the superior 
claims of a dozen or more game fishes. The Sun-fish and 
the Perch must not be snubbed, however, for they are prime 
favorites with tens of thousands of anglers who cannot leave 
home in quest of sport. They will thrive and multiply, almost 
beyond belief, in ponds and streams too small for Bass, and 
too warm for Trout and Land-locked Salmon; and I proph- 
esy that they will yet be introduced in all suitable waters 
throughout the continent, which they do not now inhabit." 

Besides the real Sun-fishes, which the books call Lepomis, 
there are other fishes more like them and of the same family, 
which form a regular gradation in size and gameness, from 
the Pumpkin-seed to the king of our western and southern 
rivers, the Black Bass. And the boy recognizes this series. 
He knows that to catch a Red-eye is to place himself on the 
grade of promotion; above the Red-eye comes the Crappie, 
and above the Crappie the Calico Bass. One step more 
to the Black Bass. Could there be a more natural grada- 
tion.^ Yet that these species are only Sun-fish of a larger 
growth goes without discussion. 

THE COMMON SUN-FISH, PUMPKIN-SEED OR SUNNY Lcpomis 

gib bos US (Linnaeus). 

Descriptiofi. — Body deep, very gibbous, both dorsal and ven- 
tral outlines strongly curved; depth in adult, a little more 
tlian half its length without caudal; the head a little more 



412 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

than a third; eye large; 8 to 4 1-2-in. head, about equal to the 
opercular flap; mouth small, the maxillary scarcely reaching 
to orbit; profile usually forming an angle above eye; fins well 
developed, the spines of the dorsal rather high; the spines as 
long as from snout to past pupil; pectoral fins long, reaching 
to anal ; opercular flap moderate, broad and short, bluntly 
rounded, black except a broad edge on the lower posterior 
part, which in life is always bright scarlet and always a strik- 
ing feature; fin-rays: dorsal X, 10; anal III, 10; lateral line 
with 36 to 45 scales; coloration very variable, according to the 
surroundings of the fish; back greenish-olive, usually dark; 
sides profusely spotted with orange; belly orange-yellow; lower 
fins orange, the upper olivaceous, with the membranes closely 
spotted with orange and olive, with clear blue wavy streaks. 
Length 6 to 8 or to inches. 

The common Sun-fish is found throughout the Great Lake 
Region, in the Upper Mississippi, eastward to the rivers of 
Maine, and thence southward as far as Georgia in the streams 
east of the Alleghanies. Its geographical range, singularly 
enough, exactly coincides with that of the Yellow Perch, but 
no other fish whatever shows the same eccentricity of going 
southward on the east side of the moutains, while avoiding 
the middle and lower Mississippi. 

As already stated, the Sun-fish is pre-eminently a boy's 
fish. It is active, handsome and voracious. Any bait small 
enough for it to swallow, it will take with an energy worthy 
of a fish ten times its size. 

The following account of its nest-building habits is given 
by Dr. Holbrook. I suppose that other Sun-fishes share these 
habits, but no other species has been so carefully observed. 

"This fish prefers still and clear waters. In the spring, the 
female prepares herself a circular nest, by removing all reeds 
or other dead aquatic plants from a chosen spot of a foot or 
more in diameter, so as to leave bare the clean gravel or sand; 
this she excavates to the depth of three or four inches, and 
then deposits her spawn, which she watches with the greatest 
vigilance; and it is curious to see how carefully she guards 
this nest against all intruders; in every fish, even those of her 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 4^3 




414 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

own species, she sees only an enemy, and is restless and 
uneasy till she has driven it away from her nursery. We 
often find groups of the nests placed near each other along 
the margin of the pond or river that the fish inhabits, but 
always in very shallow water; hence they are liable to be left 
dry in seasons of great drought. These curious nests are fre- 
quently encircled by aquatic plants, forming a curtain around 
them, but a large space is invariably left open for the admis- 
sion of light." 

Thoreau ("Week on Concord and Merrimack"J thus spoke 
of this fish: 

"It is the most common of all, and seen on every 
urchin's string, a simple and inoffensive fish, whose nests 
are visible all along the shore, hollowed in the sand, over 
which it is steadily poised through the summer hours 
on waving fin. Sometimes there are twenty to thirty nests 
in the space of a few rods, two feet wide by half a foot in 
depth and made with no little labor, the weeds being removed, 
and the sands shoved up on the sides like a bowl. Here it 
may be seen early in the summer assiduously brooding, and 
driving away minnows and larger fishes, even its own species, 
which would disturb its ova, pursuing them a few feet, and 
circling around swiftly to its nest again; the minnows, like 
young sharks, instantly entering the empty nests, meanwhile, 
and swallowing the spawn, which is attached to the weeds 
and to the bottom on the sunny side. The spawn is exposed 
to so many dangers that a very small proportion can ever 
become fishes, for besides being the constant prey of birds 
and fishes, a great many nests are made so near the shore, in 
shallow water, that they are left dry in a few days, as the 
river goes down. These and the Lampreys are the only 
fishes' nests that I have observed, though the ova of some 
species may be seen floating on the surface. The breams are 
so careful of rheir charge that you may stand close by them in 
the water and examine them at your leisure. I have thus stood 



THE YELLOW, BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 415 

over them half an hour at a time and stroked them famiharly 
without frightening them, suffering them to nibble at my finger 
harmlessly, and seen them erect their dorsal fins in anger when 
my hand approached their ova, and have even taken them gen- 
tly out of the water with my hand; thoughthis cannot beaccom- 
plished by any sudden movement, however dexterous, for 
instant warning is conveyed to them through their denser 
element, but only by letting the fingers gradually close about 
them as they are poised over the palm and with the utmost 
gentleness raising them slowly to the surface. 

"Though stationary, they keep up a constant sculling or 
waving motion with their fins, which is exceedingly graceful, 
and expressive of their humble happiness, for unlike ours, the 
element in which they live is a stream which must be con- 
tantly resisted. From time to time they nibble at the weeds 
at the bottom or overhanging their nests, or dart after a fly 
or worm. The dorsal fin, besides answering the purpose of 
a keel, with the anal, serves to keep the fish upright, for in 
shallow water where this is not covered, they fall on their 
sides. 

"As you stand thus, stooping over the bream in its nest, 
the edges of the dorsal and caudal fins have a singular dusty 
golden reflection, and its eyes, which stand out from the head, 
are transparent and colorless. Seen in its native element, it 
is a very beautiful and compact fish, perfect in all its parts, 
and looks like a brilliant coin fresh from the mint. It is a 
perfect jewel of the river, the green, red, coppery, and 
golden reflections of its mottled sides being the concentra- 
tions of such rays as struggle through the floating pads and 
flowers to the sandy bottom, and in harmony with the sunlit 
brown and yellow pebbles. Behind its watery shield it 
dwells, far from many accidents inevitable to human life." 

Dr. Goode quotes from Mr. W. C. Harris: "I confess to 
a fondness for catching the 'Pumpkin seed' upon the lightest 
of light fly rods with leader and line of a spider-web consist- 



4l6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ency. I have caught them, averaging a half pound in 

weight, by the dozen, with black and brown hackles, and 

when they reach that size they are so sprightly in their play, 

when hooked on Trout tackle, that we cannot deny them a 

niche in the gallery of game fishes." 

THE LONG-EARED SUN-FISH — Lcpoviis viegalotis (Rafincsque). 

Description. — Body deep and rather short, the profile high 
and strongly curved; dorsal outline convex; depth more than 
half the length; head with flap a little less; dorsal spines 
low, lower than in most of the other species, in adults shorter 
than from snout to middle of eye; pectorals not reaching 
vent; gill-rakers very short and soft; opercular flap very 
long in adult, always with broad pale edge which is 
pinkish behind and bluish in front; in young specimens the 
flap exhibits every stage of development, no two individuals 
being alike in this respect. Colors very brilliant, more so 
than in any other of our Sun-fishes, but fading rapidly after 
death. The general color of an adult specimen is brilliant 
blue and orange, the black chiefly blue, the belly entirely 
orange, the orange forming irregular longitudinal rows of 
spots, the blue in wavy vertical lines along the series of 
scales; vertical fins with the soft rays blue and the membranes 
orange, sometimes fiery red; ventral and anal, dusky blue; 
lips blue; cheeks with blue and orange stripes; top of head 
and neck black; iris bright red; fins unspotted; young speci- 
mens with the ear-flap small, and the coloration variously 
dull; D. X, lo; A. Ill, lo; lat. I. 40. 

Throughout the Mississippi valley, and on south-westward 
to the Rio Grande, this gorgeous little fish is abundant. It 
is also occasionally taken in the streams of the North-west, 
it may be found on every urchin's string in Indiana and Illi- 
nois. It is smaller than the common Sun-fish, and less 
active, although in coloration it is one of the gayest fishes 
that swim. 

THE YELLOW-BELLY OR " BREAM." LepODlls miritUS 

(Linngeus). 

Description. — Body elongate, not much elevated. Snout mod- 
erately prominent. Mouth rather large oblique, the maxillary 
reaching past front of eye. Cheeks with rather small scales, 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS ' FISHES. 417 

in about 7 rows. Scales of breast small. Palatine teeth few, 
rather large. Gill-rakers quite short, but stiff and rough; 
wide apart. Opercular flap very long (longer in the adult 
than on any other of the Sun-fishes except Lepomis megaloiis^, 
narrow, not usually wider than the eye. In the young the 
flap is variously shorter, but always narrow; lower margin of 
flap usually pale. Dorsal spines rather low. Color olive; 
belly largely orange red; scales on the sides with reddish 
spots on a bluish ground; vertical fins chiefly orange or yel- 
lowish; head with bluish stripes, especially in front of eye; 
no dusky blotch on last rays of dorsal and anal. Head (with- 
out flap) 3-in. length; depth 2 1-8. D. X, 11; A. Ill, g; Lat. 
I. 47. L. 8 inches. 

This handsome Sun-fish is found in all ponds and streams 
east of the Alleghanies from Maine to Florida. It reaches a 
length of eight to ten inches, and is a pan-fish and a game- 
fish not to be despised. In Virginia and the Carolinas, it is 
the most abundant of the Sun-fish, and thrives wonderfully 
in millponds. 
THE BLUE-GILL OR DOLLARDEE — Lepoiuis palHdus (Mitchill). 

Description. — Body deep and compressed, rather elongate, 
with slender caudal peduncle when young; short, deep and 
almost orbicular in very old specimens; head moderate, about 
one-third the length, with short snout, large eye, and steep 
profile; depth of body about half the length, in old specimens 
somewhat more; mouth quite small, the maxillary not reach- 
ing eye; opercular flap large, entirely black, with narrow 
margin at base, nearly as broad as long in adults; in young 
specimens the flap is usually quite small, and broader than 
long; fins large; dorsal spines very high, often higher than 
soft rays in young, their length about equal to the distance 
from snout to posterior margin of eye; pectoral fins very long 
and falcate, reaching beyond beginning of anal ; scales mod- 
erate; those on cheeks in about six rows; lateral line with 
45 to 48. Coloration, adults dark olive or bluish green; 
belly and lower parts more or less coppery; no blue stripes 
on the cheek; a large dusky or "inky" spot on the last raj's of 
dorsal and anal; young specimens show several undulating or 
chain-like transverse olive bars, and a bright purplish luster in 
life. Length 6 to 10 or 12 inches. 

This species is the most wideK- diffused of all our Sun- 
27 



41 8 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

fishes, and westward it is everywhere the most abundant. 
Like Lcpomis mcgalotis it is subject to very great variations 
in form, coloration, and general appearance, yet it is usually, 
of all Sun-fishes, the species most readily recognized. 

This fish, called the Blue Gill, in Michigan, is abundant in 
all waters from New York to Dakota, and thence southward 
to Florida and the Rio Grande. It reaches a larger size in 
the North, and in the vicinity of Lake Michigan it is the most 
important of the tribe. In large lakes it grows large, but in 
small streams it adapts its body to what it can find to eat — 
an arrangement not unknown elsewhere in the class of fishes. 

THE GREEN SUN-FISH — Lcpouiis cyancUus (Rafinesque). 

Description. — Body oblong, or elongate, the depth usually 
about 2 i-2-in. length; the head about 3; mouth pretty wide, 
the maxillary reaching nearly to middle of eye; lower jaw 
rather longest; fins rather small, the dorsal spines very low, 
the longest scarcely longer than snout; scales always small, 
about 46 in the course of the lateral line; opercular flap short 
and small, less than eye, broadly margined with pinkish, the 
black confined to the bony part of the flap. Colors extremely 
variable, the prevailing shade usually green, with a strong 
brassy luster on sides, becoming usually yellow below; often 
nearly all deep green, often with the blue predominating, 
sometimes in northern specimens nearly black; each scale 
usually with a sky-blue spot, and more or less of gilt-edging, 
which gives an appearance of pale lines along the sides; 
besides the blue spots, some specimens, usually young or 
half-grown ones, are crossed by vertical bars of a brassy olive, 
or sometimes almost black color; many adults are further 
marked by sprinklings of black dots; vertical fins marked with 
green and blue, the anal almost edged in front with pale or- 
ange; ventrals usually yellowish; iris red; cheeks with narrow 
wavy stripes of bright blue; usually a round black spot on last 
rays of dorsal and anal behind — the latter, and sometimes both, 
obsolete. A species extremely variable both in form and col- 
oration, yet easily recognizable at sight. 

This is a small but active and voracious sun-fish that 
generally makes his presence felt whenever an angle-v^orm is 
dropped in his vicinity. It is found in all waters between the 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOVS' FISHES. 419 

Rocky Mountains and the Alleghanies, and from Michij^an to 
Texas. Wherever it is found it is abundant. 

The other species of Lcpomis are either scarce or small, or 
else wholly confined to the lowland waters of the South, and 
it may not be necessary to refer to them farther. 

Closely related to these are some small species of other 
genera of Sun-fishes, found only in the lowland waters of the 
Eastern States from Massachusetts to Florida. These are 
the Banded Sun-fish, Mcsogonistias cJiaetodon (Baird), straw- 
color, with jet-black cross-stripes, too small for a food fish, 
but too handsome to be overlooked by any angler. It is 
common only in the lowlands of the Delaware River. 

Enncacanthus obcsiis and gloriosus, with shining spots of 
brown and blue, have a wider range, but reach no larger size, 
while Acantharc Jilts proniotis, the Mud Sun-fish, dark green, 
with darker stripes, much resembles the Red-Eye or Rock 
Bass. 

THE WAR-MOUTH — CJicEuobj-yttus gulos2is (Cuv. audVal). 

Description. — Body heavy, deep and thick, depth 2 1-8 in, 
length; head about 2 2-3; mouth large, its maxillary reach- 
ing nearly to posterior margin of eye — the supplemental bone 
strong; scales on the cheeks in 7 to g rows; mucous pores 
about head very large; spines very stout, the longest as long 
as from snout to middle of eye. Color very dark green, some- 
times almost black; three oblique bands across the cheeks, 
and a black opercular spot, pale-margined below, as large as 
the eye; young specimens are profusely mottled, like young 
Rock Bass; very old specimens from the lakes are dark olive 
green above, sides greenish and brassy, with blotches of pale 
blue and bright coppery red, the red predominating; belly 
bright brassy yellow, profusely mottled with bright red; lower 
jaw chiefiy 3-ellow; iris bright red; opercular spot short, as 
large as eye, black, bordered below with copper-color; 3 or 4 
wide dark red bands radiating backward from across cheeks 
and opercles; separated by narrow pale blue interspaces; 
upper fins barred with black, orange and blue, the former 
color predominating. Length 8 to 12 inches. 

A big, hearty, voracious fellow, the War-mouth lives in 



42 o 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



the deep pools under the logs, and is the terror of the min- 
nows and chubs. The species is common in all the lowland 
streams from North Carolina to Texas, and then northward 
into the Great Lakes, but it reaches its greatest abundance 
in the South. In size, color and habits, he is the duplicate 
of his cousin the Red-Eye or Rock Bass, and as a game-fish, 
is equally interesting. 

THE ROCK BASS, RED-EYE OR GOGGLE-EYE AlllblopHtcS ril- 

pestris^ (Rafinesquej, 

Description. — Body oblong, the depth about 2 1-2 in length; 
head 3 in length; profile convex, eye very large, about equal to 
snout, 3 1-2 to 3 3-4-in. head; cheeks with about eight rows 
of scales and a naked area; preopercle very weakly serrate, 
dorsal spines stout, rather low; D. XI, 11; A. VI, 10; lateral 
line with about 40 scales. General color, brassy olive-green, 
with much dark mottling, the young irregularly blotched with 
black, the adult more uniformly colored, each scale with a 
squarish dusky blotch, these forming more or less distinct 
longitudinal stripes; fine dark olive, the soft rays more or less 
barred; iris red. This species reaches the length of about a 
foot. 

This well-known fish marks the transition from Sun-fish to 
Bass, and for its angler-lovers, the transition from youth to 
manhood. It is a fish of ponds, lakes and sluggish waters. 
You can catch them in the canals, or in any place where a fish 
of meditative habits can maintain itself. It is abundant 
throughout the Great Lake region, and thence south-west- 
ward in every stream as far as Texas. East of the mountains, 
I have seen it only in the Roanoke. It is most plenti- 
ful in the North, as it is not fond of vv^arm water or of mud. 
Besides its name "Rock Bass," a good name of long standing, 
and embalmed in the specific name "rupestris," it has some 
other names equally good and appropriate, as "Red-Eye," and 
"Goggle-Eye," and by any of these names the anglers will 
know it anywhere. It is a pity to waste three good names 
on one fish, when so many other reputable fishes have no dis- 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOVS' FISHES. 421 




422 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



tinctive name at all, but are compelled to wear the cast-off or 
made over names of other fishes. 

THE SACRAMENTO RED-EYE — AvckopUtcs iutcrriiptus (Girard). 

Description. — Body oblong-ovate, compressed, the back con- 
siderably elevated anteriorly, depressed over the eye, the 
snout projecting at an angle. Mouth terminal, very large, 
the maxillary very broad, extending beyond pupil. Eye very 
large, 4 to 5-in. head. Scales on cheek in about eight series. 
Preopercle decidedly serrate. Dorsal spines rather low, 
strong. Pectoral short, barely reaching anal. Color blackish 
above, sides silvery, with about seven vertical blackish bars, 
irregular in form and position and more or less interrupted; a 
black opercular spot; fins nearly plain. Head 2 2-3; depth 
2 1-2. D. XIII, 10; scales about 7 — 51 — 14. L. 12 inches. 
Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers; abundant; the only fresh- 
water percoid west of the Rocky Mountains. 

This fine fish is the double of the Rock Bass, which it 
resembles very closely, in size, color and habits. It is found 
only in the sloughs of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin 
Rivers, and it is the only fresh-water fish of the Perch or 
Bass kind which is found west of the Rocky Mountains. It 
seems to be a lineal descendant of our Rock Bass, and how 
it came to California is one of the standing puzzles in the 
geographical distribution of fishes. 

There is in the Sacramento another fish, likewise wrongly 
called a "Perch," a viviparous "Surf-fish" or Embiotocoid, 
Hystcrocarp2is traski. This species is of little importance 
as food or as game, but it is very interesting to naturalists 
from the fact that it brings forth its young alive. It gives 
birth to some eight or ten young, each about an inch in 
length, and quite ready at birth to take care of themselves. 

THE ROUND BASS — Coifrarc/uis viacroptcrus (Lacepede). 

Description. — Body very short, suborbicular, the snout pro- 
jecting; back and belly closely compressed; the greatest 
thickness of the body being through the opercular region; 
top of head broad and flattish, the interorbital space being 
about equal to eye; mouth small, very oblique, the maxillary 
scarcely reaching middle of eye; eye very large, about 3-in. 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 



423 




424 AMERICAN GAME FISHES, 

head; head 3 in length of body; greatest depth 2; dorsal XI 
to XIII, 12 or 13; anal VIII, 13 or 14, lateral line with 37 to 
4.3 scales. Color silvery green, with about 20 horizontal dark 
stripes along the rows of scales: a black spot on last rays of 
dorsal: a blackish bar below eye. Length 4 to 6 inches. 

An elegant little fish, very abundant in the lowland streams 
of the South, and coming as far north as Virginia and South- 
ern Illinois. It is a good food-fish, but it rarely weighs half 
a pound. It especially abounds in the clear dark waters 
among the cypress-knees. 

THE CRAPPIE — Ponwxis annularis (Rafinesque). 

Description. — Body elongate, the depth usually about 2 1-2- 
in. length of body, the profile more or less strongly S-shaped, 
owing to the projecting snout, depressed occipital region and 
strongly prominent, thickened ante-dorsal area; head long,about 
3-in. length; the mouth very wide, the mandible being about 
as long as the pectorals; eye large, about 4-in. head; fin-rays, 
dorsal VI, 15, the spines varying from V to VII; anal VI, 18, 
the spines frequently but 5 in number, the number of spines 
is subject to considerable variation, but the normal number 
both in dorsal and in anal is six; the proportions of the spines 
also vary somewhat; lateral line with about 42 scales (36 to 
48); color, clear silvery olive, mottled with dark olive green, 
the green being chiefly on the upper part of the body and 
having a tendency to form narrow vertical bars; dorsal and 
caudal mottled with green; anal pale, scarcely marked at all; 
soft rays of dorsal and anal very high but still lower than in 
the Calico Bass. This species reaches the height of about 
a foot. The form varies much with age, large specimens 
having the body much deeper and more compressed than is 
the case with young fishes. 

The Crappie is one of our best pan-fishes, greedy and vora- 
cious as a black Bass, but less active, and giving up the fight 
at once when the hook is in his jaws. It reaches usually a 
length of ten or twelve inches, and a pound weight, but 
there are records of Crappies weighing three pounds. 

The home of the Crappie is in the Mississippi valley, espe- 
cially from St. Louis southward, although it ranges northward 
to Minnesota. It thrives best in sluggish waters, and is not 




ittii-imiamfi 

SNAGGED. 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 425 

averse to warm water or even mud. Young Crappies run by 
thousands into the muddy bayous, and when these ponds and 
sloughs dry up in the summer, multitudes of these little fishes, 
with the young of the Large-mouthed Black Bass and others, 
are left to die. 

The Crappie is known by a variety of other names, at dif- 
ferent localities within its range. In the Ohio River it is 
"Bachelor," and sometimes "New Light," or "Campbellite," 
its advent in certain rivers of Kentucky being reputed to be 
coincident with the preaching of Alexander Campbell. " Bride 
Perch" and "Chinquapin Perch" are meaningless names 
heard on the Mississippi River. Tin-mouth is another name 
with some shade of appropriateness, while about New 
Orleans is heard the inexphcable appellation of "Sac-a-lait," 
also freely applied to the larger Killi-fishes. Of these names 
Crappie is to be preferred, because it is most widely used, 
and because it belongs to no other fish. 

The Crappie feeds on small fishes and crustaceans. It 
takes very kindly to life in ponds and with the Calico Bass 
and the Rock-Bass, it is one of the species best adapted for 
the stocking of ponds. 

Professor Goode quotes from "St. Louis," in the Ameri- 
can Angler, the following account of Crappie-fishing near St. 
Louis: 

"Our 'Crappie,' the greatest pan-fish of the West, is highly 
esteemed by us for the table. We have seen a monster 
Crappie this spring, weighing over three pounds, taken at 
Murdock Club Lake, near St. Louis, on the Illinois side. 
We consider one of one-and-a-half to two pounds a large 
one. They are taken about logs and tree-tops, on the water's 
edge in our rivers and sloughs. They are greedy fellows, 
but as soon as hooked, step right into the boat without a 
struggle for liberty. 

"A gentleman of this place, a member of one of our old 
French families, who turned the scale at about three-hundred 



426 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

pounds, was noted for his success in Crappie-fishing. He 
would have his large flat towed to a tree; when, tied to a 
limb, he would settle himself for the day on a pillow placed 
in a large split-bottom chair. Hauling his live-box and min- 
now-pail alongside, he would bait two hooks attached to a 
strong line, using a weak snell, so that in case the hook 
should foul, he could break it loose. He used a float and 
short, stout bamboo rod, and, shaking the bushes a little, 
*to stir up the fish,' would select an opening and carefully 
drop on the minnow, two feet below the surface, pass the 
end of the rods through rings in the side of the boat, light his 
pipe, and wait for something to happen. It was not long; 
and after the fun began, it was the same monotonous lifting 
out of fish, and dropping them into the live-box all the day 
long, and was continued on the next, until he had brought 
to creel over three hundred. 

"I have always associated in my mind the Crappie, and 
the love of ease and quiet of our old French inhabitants. 
Nothing could more truly represent contentment and ease 
than the picture of this simple-minded old gentleman on his 
annual Crappie fish at King's Lake." 

THE YELLOW PERCH — Pcrca flavcsccus (Mitchill). 

Description.— V>o^y ohXoxig, compressed, mouth moderate, the 
maxillary not quite reaching to orbit; lower jaw a little the 
longest; eye moderate, 4 1-2 to 5-in. head; top of head naked, 
the bones rough behind; cheeks with rather large scales, well 
imbricated; opercle naked and with radiating striae, of which 
the uppermost forms a long, flat spine, below which seven 
or eight striae end in sharp teeth; preopercle strongly serrate, 
the lower serrae hooked forward, gill-rakers comparatively 
short, in length about equal to the diameter of the pupil; 
pseudobranchiae very small; scales rather small, 55 to 62 in 
the lateral line; first dorsal spine inserted above base of pec- 
torals; head 3 1-2 in. length, depth 3 3-4; fin-rays D. XIH I, 
13; A. n, 8. Color dark-olive above; sides more or less 
brassy-yellow; belly white; about six irregular, dark olive bars 
on sides; lower fins clear, orange, sometimes red; second 
dorsal and caudal yellowish olive, somewhat dusky tinged; first 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOVS' FISHES. 42/ 




428 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

dusky yellow at base, a black blotch on posterior part of the 
fin; lower jaw, etc., translucent reddish. The coloration va- 
ries much with circumstances, individuals living in weedy 
streams being much darker and more spotted than the average 
lake specimens are. Length of adult 8 to 12 inches. 

The yellow Perch is a fish which has been on good terms with 
the angler ever since the first angle-worm was wet in American 
waters. He is generally ready to bite, always ready to be 
hooked when he has bitten, and may always be counted in as 
a notable part of the day's result when he is in the basket. 

The Yellow Perch is found throughout the Great Lake 
Region, and in some parts of the Upper Mississippi. Its 
range extends thence eastward, including all the rivers of 
New England except the very coldest. Thence it extends 
southward in the lowland streams as far as Georgia. Why 
Perch should be found in the rivers of the Carolinas, and not 
at all in the streams of Kentucky, Missouri and Southern 
Illinois, is one of the things which are hard to explain. Nor 
is this fact made any simpler when we remember that one 
other fish, and only one, the old-fashioned "Sunny," {Lcpoviis 
fibbosus) shares this peculiar range with him. 

The American Perch is a handsome fish in color. His 
back is green, his belly, and across his sides are four or five 
broad black bands. There is a big black spot on the spinous 
dorsal fin, while the lower fins are bright orange or even 
cherry red. From the black stripes the fish has received the 
names of Ringed Perch and Raccoon Perch. The name 
Yellow Perch is more commonly heard, and this appropriate 
title was long ago put into Latin by Professor Mitchill to 
form his scientific name, Perca Jlavcsccns, the Yellow Perch. 

Perca fluviatilis, the River Perch, is almost the duplicate 
of our species, and it is as common in the waters of Europe 
as is ours in the rivers of the Eastern States. The Ameri- 
can species, flavescens, is the handsomer fish, however, with 
his coat of cloud and sunshine, while the duller olive and 
gray of the European fish suits the hazy sky of an English 
summer. 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 429 

The Perch abounds in quiet, deep places in the river and 
in ponds and lakes. It feeds mainly upon minnows and 
worms, having a constant though not voracious appetite. It 
reaches a length of about eighteen inches and a weight of a 
pound or two. As a food fish it is respectable, though fall- 
ing far short of the best. 

I once spoke rather lightly of the Perch as food, and was 
taken sharply to task by a New York angler devoted to the 
Perch. I sent immediately to the market, bought some Perch 
and had them properly fried, but I found them even poorer 
and drier than I had thought. But these were market Perch, 
tired, and crushed beneath a mass of ice. The flavor is said 
to be best during the spawning season, after which, accord- 
ing to Dr. Goode, the flesh is soft and watery. Taken at its 
best, the Perch is a good pan-fish — and every fish has the 
right to be taken at its best. 

The best bait for a Perch, so far as my experience goes — 
and I hasten to say that it does not go very far — is an angle- 
worm. This, with a stout hook, a float and a sinker, serves 
the essential purpose, and a rod of alder does as well as the 
finest bamboo. According to Dr. Goode, this form of tackle 
is effective when Perch are numerous and hungry, and thus I 
have generally found them. 

Thoreau says of the Perch: 

"The common Perch, Perca flavescens, which name 
describes well the gleaming, golden reflections of its scales, 
as it is drawn out of the water, its red gills standing out in 
vain in the thin element, is one of the handsomest of our 
fishes, and at such a moment as this reminds us of the fish 
in the picture which wished to be restored to its native ele- 
ment until it had grown larger. 

"The Perch is a tough and heedless fish, biting from 
impulse, without nibbling, and from impulse refraining to 
bite, and sculling indifferently past. It is a true fish, such 
as the angler loves to put into his basket or hang on the top 



430 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

of his willow twig, on shady afternoons, along the banks of 
the streams. So many unquestionable fish he counts, and 
so many shiners which he counts, and then throws away." 

I have spent a good many hours in the company of the 
Perch, but my most successful day at Perch-fishing was in 
June of 1874, on the Little Suamico River, in North-eastern 
Wisconsin. 

I had gone up there on a hunting and fishing trip and had 
taken with me a bright young student, a Scotch boy from a 
Wisconsin farm, afterward well-known to naturalists as 
Charles Leslie McKa}/, and who later was lost on the shores 
of Alaska, while in the service of the Smithsonian Institution. 

Two years before, the fires had raged through the pine 
woods of Oconto County, burning the trees and carving great 
ponds in the dried muck. The dark trunks rose like skele- 
tons of the living things they had been, but the bird-life was 
as full among them as ever, and all about us the white- 
throated sparrow whistled and the rose-breasted grosbeak 
kept up his querulous questionings. The yellow-breasted 
chat made the bare condition of the trees a subject for his 
best jokes, and we found one compensating advantage amid 
the dismal scenery in the fact that we could hear the birds 
so well. But we came this time for fish, not birds, and all I 
need say is, that Perch, near the mouth of the little river, 
were as plenty as the shiners, and of the shiners we caught 
more than we cared to count or keep, or even to throw away. 

THE DARTERS — Ethcostonia. 

But more interesting than the real Perch was a little fish 
in blue and crimson which we found lying in the bottom of 
the river, insensible to any bait we were able to offer it. It 
was not more than two inches long, and as slender as a 
shingle nail. We rigged up an impromptu dip-net and suc- 
ceeded in taking some of them. We had never seen them 
before, and that is not strange, for they were then new to 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 43 I 




432 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

science. Later they received their name of EtJieostonia cos, 
the Darter of the Sunrise. 

When we found these little fishes, we cared no longer for 
the Perch, great, gaudy yellow fellows, lit only to be fried, 
while these were as beautiful as the dawn for which we 
named them, {Etheostoma eos) and as delicate as they were 
beautiful. 

Still, these little "Darters" are the children of the Perch, if 
the tales of the evolutionist can be trusted, and the Perch is 
chiefly interesting to me on account of its singular progeny. 

There are some seventy kinds of Darters, all dwarf or 
diminutive Perches, and swarming on the bottoms of every 
clear stream from Quebec around to Rio Grande and beyond. 
The largest of them is not more than eight inches long, and 
the smallest less than two, yet in spite of their littleness they 
are not so much dwarfed as concentrated fishes, each one as 
perfect in form as the Perch, and as delicate in color as 
though it had been separately hand-painted. 

These diminutive creatures are Perch in all their essen- 
tials, and seem to have arisen in the first place from the 
adaptation of young Perch to smaller and smaller streams 
and scantier sources of food supply. 

But the story of the Darter is a long story, much longer 
than the story of the Perch, and few anglers will listen to it, 
for though Rafinesque says "They are good to eat, fried," 
each one has about as much meat as a beech-nut, and one 
would as soon think of filling his pan with wood-warblers as 
his creel with the "Darter-perches." 

THE YELLOW BASS — MoroHc iutcmipta (Gill), 

Description. — Brassy, tinged with olivaceous above; sides 
Vv'ith 7 distinct longitudinal black bands, those below the later- 
al line interrupted posteriorly, the posterior part alternating 
with the anterior; body oblong-ovate, with the dorsal outline 
much arched; head depressed, somewhat pointed, its profile 
concave; eyes large, their diameter equaling length of snout; 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS FISHES. 433 

mouth somewhat oblique, maxillary nearly reaching middle of 
orbit; spines very robust, second anal spine 2-5 length of head; 
dorsal fins little connected; head 3-in. length; depth 2 2-3; D. 
IX-I, 12; A. Ill, g; Lat. i. 50. Length 10 to 15 inches. 

Very similar to the White Bass is the Yellow Bass, which 
is found in the waters of the Lower Mississippi, rarely going 
farther north than St. Louis or Cincinnati. It frequents 
ponds and the deeper parts of the streams, seldom ascend- 
ing brooks or passing shallows. The most northern locality 
from which specimens have been seen by me are Brookville, 
Ind. , and Peoria, Illinois. The Yellow Bass is a fish of 
more pronounced qualities than the White Bass. Its mouth 
is larger, its spines are much stronger, its scales are larger 
and rougher, and its coloration more definite, brassy yellow 
with lengthwise stripes of black. From its general appear- 
ance it should be an excellent game-fish, and such no doubt 
it is. Dr. Goode remarks that it is called in Louisiana "Bar- 
fish," probably on account of its stripes. *'The appellation," 
says Hallock, "is equally appropriate as applied to its habit 
of congregating in great numbers upon the shoals of clear- 
water branches and bayous which empty into the Mississippi. 
The minnows and shiners seem to seek the bars at night. 
In early morning the water is alive with Bar-fish and "Trout" 
(Black Bass), in pursuit of the minnows, until it fairly boils. 
This is the time of day to go fishing." 

THE WHITE BASS — Rocc2is cJwysops (Rafinesque). 

Description. — Silvery, tinged v/ith golden below; sides with 
blackish or dusky longitudinal lines, 4 or 5 above the lateral 
line, I through which the lateral line runs, and a variable num- 
ber of more or less distinct ones below it, the latter some- 
times "more or less interrupted or transposed so as to appear 
like ancient church music;" dorsal outline much curved, sec- 
ond anal spine 1-2 length of head; axis of body rather below 
the middle of its depth; head conical, slightly depressed at 
the nape; mouth small, nearly horizontal; maxillary reaching 
middle of pupil; head about 3 1-3 in. length; depth about 
2 1-2; eye large, its diameter equal to the length of the snout; 

28 



434 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

D. IX-I, 14; A. Ill, 12; scales, 7-55-13. Length, 10 to 15 
inches. 

A gentle, quiet, handsome fish, common enough, yet never 
very abundant; fairly well known yet unobtrusive, never 
taking a prominent part in anything. Such is the White 
Bass. It is found throughout the region west of Lake Cham- 
plain, north of Tennessee and east of Dakota. A few White 
Bass may be found in any pile of Black Bass or Sunfish from 
the lakes, as they lie in the market stalls. Yet no one ever 
saw a catch of White Bass, and no one ever went fishing 
especially for them. 

It is a food-fish of good flavor, similar to the Black Bass, 
and not inferior. It lives in deep or still waters, both in 
rivers or lakes, but it seldom ascends small streams, and dis- 
likes waters which are muddy or weedy. It is said to do 
well in ponds. It may be caught in the same ways as the 
Black Bass, though it is certainly less voracious and less 
gamy. 

THE CALICO BASS — Povioxis spavoides (Lacepede). 

Descriptio7i. — Body oblong, elevated, greatly compressed, 
the depth being nearly half the length, the head one-third; profile 
more regular than in the Crappie, the projections and depres- 
sions being less marked; head much deeper and shorter than 
in the Crappie, the mouth considerably smaller, the mandible 
being considerably shorter than pectorals; snout projecting, 
forming an angle with the descending profile; fins very high; 
anal rather larger than dorsal, its height being from one- 
fourth to one-fifth of the length of the fish without caudal-fin; 
dorsal VII, 15, varying to VIII spines, very rarely VI; anal 
VI, 18, varying to V, 17; lateral line with 40 to 42 scales; 
color a bright silvery olive, mottled with clear olive green, 
the dark mottlings gathered in irregular small bunches, rath- 
er than in lines or bars, and covering the whole body and 
the soft rays of the anal as well as those of the caudal and 
dorsal fins; usually a dusky opercular spot. This species 
reaches a length of a little more than a foot. 

Closely allied to the Crappie, but loving colder and clearer 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 



435 




//.' 



-Si-'^'"^^: 



liiitii/^'' 



^436 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

waters, and therefore a finer, firmer, more deeply colored 
and more vigorous fish, is the Calico Bass. 

The range of this species extends from South Carolina 
north-westward to Kentucky, Vermont, Iowa and the Great 
Lakes, being almost identical with that of the Rock Bass. 
Many fishermen fail to distinguish this from the Crappie, and 
Dr. Henshall has proposed to spread the same name over 
both, calling this the Northern Crappie. It has, however, 
good names of its own, and the observant angler will notice 
that while the true Crappie has but six spines in its dorsal 
fin, the Calico Bass has seven, and its anal fin is mottled 
and spotted like the dorsal, while in the Crappie this fin is 
almost plain. In Lake Michigan, where this fish is abundant 
and the Crappie is not found at all, the name of Bar-fish is 
in common use. In Ohio and Illinois, besides the appropri- 
ate name of Calico Bass, there are others of less pertinence. 
Strawberry Bass, Grass Bass, Bitter Head and Big Fin Bass 
are among the best of them, but it will be best to let them 
all die away through disuse. 

The Calico Bass is an excellent game fish, rather superior 
to the Rock Bass, inasmuch as it is handsomer and usually 
grows larger, and shows a good deal of eagerness and spirit. 

Of all our American Bass-like fishes, this will probably 
prove to be the one best adapted for artificial ponds, espe- 
cially those with weedy or mucky bottom and clear water. 

The case for the Calico Bass is thus strongly put by Dr. 
Jared P. Kirtland, as quoted by Dr. Goode: 

"The Grass Bass has not hitherto been deemed worthy of 
consideration by fish culturists; yet from a long and intimate 
acquaintance with its merits, I hesitate not to pronounce it 
the fish for the million. It is a native of our western rivers 
and lakes, where it usually resorts to deep and sluggish 
waters; yet in several instances, where it has found its way 
into cold and rapid streams, and even small-sized brooks, by 
means of the constructing of canals or by the hand of man, 



THE YELLOW BASS AND OTHER BOYS' FISHES. 43/ 




438 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

it has adapted itself to the change, and in two or three years 
stocked to overflowing these new locations. As a pan-fish, 
for the table, it is surpassed by few other fresh-water species. 
For endurance and rapidity of increase it is unequaled. * * 
The Grass Bass is perfectly adapted to stocking ponds. It will 
thrive without care in very small ponds of sufficient depth. * * 
It will in nowise interfere with the cultivation of any number 
of species, large or small, in the same waters. It will live 
harmoniously with all others, and while its structure and 
disposition restrain it from attacking any other but very small 
fry, its formidable armature of spinous rays in the dorsal and 
abdominal fins will guard it against the attacks of even the 
voracious pike." 



THE SENSES OF FISHES. 



BY WILLIAM C. HARRIS. 



THE subject of the mental and emotional capacity of 
fishes is the cause of much curious comment and specula- 
tion among angling naturalists, who do not willingly con- 
sent that the class Pisces shall be placed upon a plane of intelli- 
gence below that of the insects. The belief that fishes possess 
qualities which reach a standard beyond the instinct of self- 
preservation has recently gained in strength and interest, 
Ovving to the increased facilities that fish-culture has given 
us for observing their habits. Seth Green, the Nestor of 
fish-culture in America, believed that fish talked to one 
another; and the idea is by no means an extravagant one. 

It is conceded by naturalists that certain insects and many 
of the lower animals have the power of imparting mutual 
intelligence by processes unknown to us. The little ants 
hobnobbing with each other, the cooing dove wooing its 
mate vocally, the hen clucking her brood under protecting 
wings, are familiar instances of- vocal intercourse among 
insects and birds; and no one who has watched the minnows 
of a shallow pool, or those in an aquarium, has failed to see 
equally sure indications that fishes have a way of their own 
in communicating with each other. They dart up to one 
another, put noses together for a moment, and then dart off 
with an air as much as to say, "All right." 

"Old Eschylus, in one of his poems, calls fish 'the voice- 

439 



440 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

less daughters of the unpolhited one;' but many of the 
ancients and moderns testify to the utterances of fish. PHny, 
Ovid, and others tell us of the Scarus and its wonderful 
powers of intonation. In the days of old Rome certain fish 
were said to have a regular language, 'low, sweet and fasci- 
nating, ' and the Emperor Augustus pretended to understand 
their very words. We have all heard, or heard of, the vari- 
ous sounds of the Gurnards, of the booming of the Drum-fish, 
the grunt of the Croaker, Weak-fish and others. The Grunt- 
fish of the Gulf of Mexico is said to express discontent and 
pain, and when touched with a knife fairly shrieks, and when 
dying makes moans and sobs disagreeably human. Take it 
all in all, we cannot but believe that fish have the power of 
making intelligent communication to one another, mouth to 
mouth, and we have frequently noted, or thought we did, a 
kind of knowing look about their eyes which led us to credit 
them with looking unutterable things." 

The scientists tell us that in many fishes no trace exists of 
an organ of hearing; that the tympanum, its cavity, and the 
external parts of the ear, are entirely absent; that in others 
this organ is only imperfectly developed, and that in the 
remaining few, such as the shark, the shad, herring, and 
others, there is an odd connection between the organ of 
hearing and the air-bladder. With these crude facts before 
him, the ichthyologist leaves the angler to work out the 
answer to the question, "Can fish hear.?" which is a most 
practical one to the careful angler, in his pursuit of the edu- 
cated game fish of our inland waters. We sum up briefly 
the conclusions of an old Black-Bass angler on this subject: 

Fish hear no sound originating in the air. 

Place a cannon upon an India-rubber carriage, sufficiently 
large and elastic enough to deaden, when fired, all concus- 
sion upon the ground, and Mr. Fish, after the explosion, 
will be as placid in his pool as a gourmand after dinner. 

But, step as lightly as one may upon the margin of a 



THE SENSES OF FISHES. 44! 

stream, and the fish will scatter like shot, from the shallows 
where they are feeding or frolicking. The larger the fish and 
the lesser the depth of water, the greater and wilder the 
scattering will be. 

Security seems to lie with them in the relative depth of 
the pools, as the step of the angler only disturbs them in a 
foot or two of the water. A fish lying in a hole three or 
four feet deep, close to the banks, is undisturbed by any 
ordinary concussion. 

Again, any concussion originating in or upon the bed of the 
river or below the fish, does not appear to disturb them. 
This was verified by this old angler one day upon a large 
Bass which he saw lying motionless within a foot of the 
stake to which the camp boat was tied. The water was 
about four feet deep. He struck several successive hard 
blows upon the top of the stake, which protruded about two 
feet out of the water, without causing a flirt of the fin in the 
fish below. 

Our angler at once concluded that the Bass could not hear 
the noise made by footsteps upon the bed of the river when 
wading in the stream and, as the jolly fins could not hear 
the conversation originating out of the water, anglers may 
indulge in social chat and pleasantries whenever inclined, 
taking care, however, to be always on the safe side, by not 
becoming too boisterous in their discussions or hilarity. 

"Boys," said a fly-fisher on one occasion, "what fools these 
bait-fishers are to put their comfort in a straight-jacket 
when they go a-fishing. Some old fellows won't let you 
whisper in the boat, and are as querulous and over-cautious 
as my grandfather was whenever he had an attack of the 
gout. He would lie flat on his back in bed, with his gouty 
foot propped up on a pillow laid across a chair, placed bot- 
tom upward, and m this position would center and strain his 
eyes and fears upon the knob of the chamber door, which 
was no sooner turned upon its axle than he was heard crying 
out with prospective pain,, 'Watch out for my foot!'" 



442 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

"It is just so with these old bait-fishers. A motion of 
your Hp, although voiceless, and they would cry out (if they 
dared), 'Watch out for my coming bite!' They are right in 
thinking that the least motion of the boat is apt to frighten 
the fish, but 'I won't go home till morning,' by a dozen bass 
voices is less disturbing to a pool or a bank than the twitch- 
ing of a toe on the bottom of a boat." 

Anglers generally agree on the subject of the sense of sight 
in fishes. A fish can see in water but not out of it. 

The shadow of a split-bamboo rod thrown across a pool 
will create in a fish the same skittishness as would be caused 
by an elephant browsing upon the bank. 

A passing cloud over a shallow and pellucid pool protects 
the angler and puts another fin or two in his creel, where a 
moment before each cast of his drove the fish to deeper 
pools or behind protecting rocks. 

An old angling friend once said to me that fish were like 
ostriches in some of their ways, notably in that they seemed 
to feel safe when their noses were hid behind a tuft of grass 
or in the crevices of a sunken rock. 

"Fish facing the sun, and forget not this rule, even when 
the twilight is over the waters, by casting toward the west," 
was the law enacted by his knowledge, based upon experi- 
ence, of the effect of shadows upon the wary fins, who are 
more startled by unusual appearances on the surface of a 
pool than they are by strange things below. 

Vision and hearing, in fishes, being the senses most impor- 
tant to the angler, in his water sports, those next in value 
are smell and taste. The possession of these by fish seems 
to be a disputed point. They have evidently taste in a mod- 
ified degree, as they will reject the artificial lure if the barb 
of the hook is not immediately imbedded in their flesh, but 
on the other hand, they will take a leather or rubber imita- 
tion of the natural bait with as much gusto as a live minnow 
or bug — hence the question is a see-saw one. 



THE SENSES OF FISHES. 443 

Of course, among angling naturalists, the gift of the senses 
is, or at least they think it should be, confined to game-fish, 
as they cannot imagine any dispensation of providence that 
places the ignoble Catfish or the snaky Eel upon the same 
plane with the Salmon, Trout and Bass. 

Fish, no doubt, in common with other animals, have the 
instinct of danger developed almost to the quality of reason; 
and it is no bar to the truth of this to argue that, because a 
fish will take the bait with a half dozen broken hooks in its 
mouth, it follows a brutish appetite that is blind to danger; 
for, look you, be ye an angler or a butcher, that stomach of 
yours is death to you every day of your life; that smoking 
dish, be it a red herring or canvas-back duck, is causing 
you to make rapid strides grave-ward, and you know it; and 
yet you gorge yourself every day upon your favorite dish. 

It ill becomes a man to argue that, because an animal 
cannot control its appetite, it has not the lordly gift of 
reason. To sum up: 

Can a fish taste.^ Certainly — he spits out his artificial 
bait. 

Can a fish smell.^ Aye, there's the rub; yet why the 
anointed lures so prized by old anglers and many modern 
ones.' 

This fact, however, is sure: fish are susceptible to anger 
and jealousy; for we have seen them fight, and we all know 
how tiger-like in combat Salmon and Trout are, on their 
spawning beds. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



BY JOHN HARRINGTON KEENE. 

Author of "Fly-Fishing and Fly-Making," etc. 



T 



INTRODUCTORY. 

HE desirability of self-help is more conspicuous in re- 
gard to angling than any other sport. Very few fisher- 
men are quite unable to help themselves, it is true; 
but imagine the plight of the would-be angler by the 
side of some splendid trout pool, wherein he ever and 
anon catches sight of incarnadined and gleaming fish- 
forms, without the least idea of tying a hook, or 
making a fly, and with only some twine and loose 
hooks in his possession! Or suppose him to be scores 
of miles from the nearest town, with broken rod, reel 
full of sand, leaders used up, and flies of the wrong sort— all 
of which may happen, together or separately — and observe 
what a benefit the few envelopes of feathers and silk, or the 
hank of gut, screw-driver and oil-can, and loose hooks, with 
the knob of wax, are to the sportsman who knows how to fix 
his own tackle. That man who has taken the trouble — and 
to the true angler it should be a pleasure — to learn to make 
his own tackle, is alone worthy the name of "Senior angler." 
and to him assuredly come the highest guerdons of the 

445 



446 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

craft. He is never "cornered;" and the gratification of tak- 
ing fish is enhanced a thousand-fold by the thought that it 
was done by means of one's own handicraft throughout. 
To make one's own rod, tie one's own leaders, dress one's 
own flies, search out oneself the haunts of the stream's Apol- 
lo, the trout, catch him oneself, and share him around the 
camp-fire with one's friend, is, me seems, the very pinna- 
cle of piscatorial accomplishment. Thus did the past mas- 
ters of the gentle craft, from the earliest days to those of 
Uncle Thaddeus Norris, of fragrant and well-loved mem- 
ory. 

Not that the desirability of professional tackle-making is 
less, but that the principle of resourceful adaptation should 
be more, in the angler. Flies, and the various appurtenances 
of the fisherman, can be much better and more truly miade 
in the work-shop than in the wind-swept woods. There are 
those who cannot afford the time to attend to the practical 
refurnishing of the tackle-basket. Life is too short already 
for such, and certainly too brief for the minutiae of fly- 
making. They pursue wealth, and get it. They can afford 
to fill the fly-book, etc., with the best that can be bought. 
There is nothing to say against this. But such people 
are in danger of becoming mere "dudes," in the art-piscatorial, 
and they are apt to evoke a smile of genuine pity from the 
practical fisherman, as he realizes how much is lost in true 
enjoyment by this growing tendency of wealth to have every- 
thing done for it by others. 

George Dawson has well said: "It is not all of fishing to 
fish." So far as I am personally concerned, the aesthetic 
pleasures of fishing far outbalance the mere gratification of 
the grosser man — of the hunting instinct. To sit down and 
imitate some fairy-winged insect and have the seal of appro- 
bation placed on it by the leaping fish, is a mental treat to 
tickle the palate of the intellectual epicure. To make your- 
self a graceful greenheart or rent cane rod, light and pliant 

f 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 447 

as an Ariel's wand, during the boisterous days of winter, 
and by its means, through many years, to gently force 
thousands of fish to your creel, is to create a friend and 
servant around which will cluster associations of jeweled 
luster. Nay, will not such a weapon, in the sportsman's 
sanctum, often and often, as he glances through the smoke 
of his evening pipe, bring tears to his eyes, recalling from 
shadow-land "the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of 
a voice that is still. '^" Odds and ends of tackle are strewn 
around me on the table even as I write. Some are suggestive 
of friends scattered over this broad fair land — others of good 
anglers and true across the ocean; and dearest of all are 
those mementos of him to whom I owe all of the enthusiasm, 
and skill, as a practical fisherman, I possess. He it was who 
taught me to tie a hook at five years of age, and catch a 
three-pound trout soon after; and who has now passed to 
where, "beyond these voices there is peace" — my father. 
Such associations are inexpressibly welcome to the angler, 
but they are practically unknown to the dilettante fisherman. 
Of a verity, "It is not all of fishing to fish." 

In the following paper I purpose giving (i) my deliberate 
selection as to the most suitable tackle for angling of all 
kinds, (2) and explanations of its materials and methods of 
amateur manufacture. Of course my opinion is but that of 
an individual, and doubtless good anglers and true will differ 
from me; but it will be an honest one, and in matters of fact 
I shall state what I know. Not one assertion will be found 
that depends on the experience of someone else. Thirty- 
years in the midst of fishing and tackle, in two hemis- 
pheres, should have taught me enough to set me up in expe- 
rience of my own. At any rate I am willing to stand by what 
appears in this chapter, and to the end that it may be of the 
utmost utility to the tyro, it has been boiled down to an 
intense concentration and terse practicality. 



448 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

The first thing the amateur iisherman had better learn to 
do is to tie the various knots indispensable in joining tackle. 
This is a lesson necessary at the very outset of his appren- 
ticeship, 

SECTION I KNOTS AND TIES. 

The properly tied leader, hook and line, bear the same 
relation to "good form" in the angler, as the trim, well- 
finished harness of a "two-forty" trotting horse does to the 
good form of its owner. Imagine a symmetrical brilliant- 
coated pacer tied to the sulky by means of hideous knots 
and make-shift splices instead of smart buckles and carefully 
adjusted straps — neat and strong in their arrangement ! Or 
fancy a man of reputed taste in dress promenading the 
streets in fine broad-cloth sewed together with twine, and 
pinned or tied instead of buttoned! Precisely analagous is 
the condition of the outfit of that angler whose good gut 
leaders are joined with knots that are unsightly and insecure, 
and whose hooks and lines are strung together according to 
his unskilled fancy. 

The remedy is simple, and one which every follower of the 
"gentle craft" should be aware of. Efficient knots and ties 
are as easily and swiftly made as insecure and unsightly ones. 
A little careful attention to the following directions, and 
practice with a piece of common cord for one half-hour, will 
forever dissipate the angler's ignorance on this subject, and 
give him the ability to have strongly made tackle, of the 
appearance of which he need never be ashamed. 

To plunge in nicdias res of the subject, it is certain that 
one of the very first lessons the angler has to learn is how to 
tie a loop. This process seems easy enough; and so it is, if 
the only material to be tied is a silk or cotton line. Almost 
any loop will do, in such case. But assuming that gut is 
required to be looped, its nature requires a knot of different 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



449 



character to that which will serve for ordinary purpose. Gut 
will slip, under some circumstances, and it will become brittle 
under all. 

How then ought we to proceed.' 

I have experimented with all kinds of loops and ties, dur- 
ing the past twenty years, under all possible conditions, both 
in Europe and this country, and the best and most reliable 
knots I declare to be as follows: 




First, the loop for gut or any other material: Fig. I 
shows my favorite. It is recommended by the English 
Alpine Club — a club of mountain climbers whose very exist- 
ence occasionally depends on the reliability of a knotted 
cord. It will be seen to consist of two single ties — one in 
the free end of the line, and the other in the hne itself. 




When the two are drawn taut they form a perfectly secure 
and very neat tie, which has the merit of having each part 
of it under evenly distributed strain. In all knotting, this 
latter quality is the great desideratum. 



450 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



Another loop is seen in fig. 2, and it also is a very secure 
one. It is easily made. The loop being formed, it is passed 
in a figure-8 form and drawn tight. Of course, it need 
scarcely be added that gut or hair should be well soaked 




before tying. Fig. 3 shows the famous bowline knot, and it 
needs no special recommendation from me. It is secure, 
and easily loosened; but on this latter account it is not, I 
think, to be unqualifiedly recommended for gut leaders. 

The three loops above are all-sufficient for snells or lead- 
ers. Before leaving this part of the subject, however, I 
must draw attention to the best method of joining the reel- 




line to a gut or gimp snell or leader. Fig. 4 indicates it. 
The tighter this is drawn the more secure it is, and yet it 
can be instantly undone by pulling on the free end — a con- 
sideration sometimes of great value, when time is of impor- 
tance. 

Junction knots serving to connect the parts of tackle — for 
example, leaders — need to be especially secure, and as far as 
possible, free from sharp and sudden angles and bearings. 
Usually — with the ordinarily tied leader — the breaking strain 
causes it to part at the knot. This need not be so, if figs. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



451 



5 and 6 are used. Fig. 5, drawn tight, is reliable, and readily 
made. Fig. 6 is based on the same principles with the addi- 
tion of an interlacing of horse-hair or gut, as show^n. This 
latter acts as a buffer, like the buffer-springs of a steam-car, 




Fi< 



and does not add to the size of the knot materially. When 
all is drawn tight, the actual bearing is on the intervening 
"buffer", and of course the risk of breakage is thus reduced to 




Fig. 6. 
a minimum. If a loop be desired in the leader, it can easily 
be woven in between the knots, and is absolutely secure. 

One other knot may be given as reliable and convenient. 
Fig. 7 shows it. I give it place here as an alternative 




oiily, and do not recommend it in place of the "buffer," 
(fig. 6). It is the one commonly used, but is liable to snap 
when dry, as I have proved to my cost. 

The above knots are sufficient for any and all purposes, 
and I need not add to this part of the subject of tackle- 
preparation by additional descriptions. 

SECTION 2 — lines: gut, hair, silk, gimp, etc. 
The next consideration obviously is the materials in con- 
nection with which the knots given are used. The first of 
these, and perhaps the most important, is gut. This mate- 



452 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

rial is a transparent thread, of one fiber, apparently (though 
really many are massed together), and derives its name from 
the fact that it is taken from the viscera of the silk-worm 
(bombyx mori). Its length varies from twenty-three inches 
(and even longer) to six inches; and its gauge or thickness is 
from that of a thick carpet-needle to that of a fine human 
hair. This latter is not often produced naturally, but is 
got by a process termed "drawing" — through fine holes in 
steel plates — in a way similar to the drawing of wire. 
Attempts have been made, in this country, to obtain longer 
and thicker as well as strong gut from the native silk-worm 
{attacns cccropia), but they have failed — the gut being 
very brittle, though of good appearance, and in some in- 
stances, three yards in the length of a single strand. 

The process of gut-production, as practiced by the peas- 
ants of Murcia (Spain), from which cholera-tainted town 
almost all the gut in use is imported, is described by Mr. S. 
Allcock, the largest gut-factor in the world, as follows: 

"Worms are bred by the country people in their cottages 
or houses, which usually consist of two rooms on one floor. 
The roofs of the houses being nearly flat, no fire-place in 
the houses, the cooking is done outside in the yard. The 
windows are simply iron cross-bars without glass in the 
sleeping room. They tie together bamboo cane reeds (which 
grow plentifully there) with string, forming a bed from 
twelve to fifteen feet long by four feet wide, raised from the 
floor about four feet high. The worms are spread all over 
these beds formed of cane, and are fed five times daily by 
covering them with mulberry leaves. Before feeding, all the 
dead and sickly worms are picked out, so that the others are 
kept in a healthy state. The worm lives about fifty days, 
during which time they sleep three days at a time, in all 
twelve days. When they are ready to spin into the cocoon 
they creep upon branches of small trees cut out of the gar- 
dens, which are placed over the worms. They are taken off, 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 453 

put into vinegar, where they remain for six hours, then put 
into water. Some of the country people make a special 
business of this, and purchase the worms from others, and 
employ girls to draw out the gut, which is done by taking off 
the head and taking hold of the entrails by the thumb and 
linger and pulling them out as long as they will come, then 
placing the gut in clear water again. When a sufficient 
quantity of two or three thousand are made, it is tied in 
bunches, and hung up to dry in the yard or garden. Some 
worms produce one gut, some two, and a few three guts. 
It is afterward sold by the pound-weight of rolls to the gut- 
makers. The gut-makers boil the gut with soap and a little 
soda, when the outer skin or film comes off easily. It is then 
washed, bleached and hung up in rooms. Then girls are 
employed who place each gut between their teeth, holding 
the other end with their fingers, and rub it with wash leather. 
It is then sorted — the strength, lengths, and quality — re-rubbed 
and tied in bundles of 100, then in 1,000 each, for sale." 

This graphic description was written by Mr. Allcock on the 
spot, and I need not remind my readers that he had unrivaled 
opportunities of knowing, having a factory there, and prepar- 
ing, as he does, all the gut he imports so vastly. 

Good gut is of course expensive, but it is by far the cheap- 
est, in the end. The characteristics of good gut are as fol- 
lows: Length — the longer the better {ccetcris paribus) — 
thickness (for Salmon gut), and strength. The best Salmon 
gut I ever saw was over twenty inches long, very thick, and 
sustained a dead weight of twelve pounds. This, however, 
was worth more than its weight in gold. 

Good gut, when bent, should not form a permanent right- 
angle, showing what medical science terms a "green stick 
fracture." It should be round also. This is easily deter- 
mined by taking it between the finger and thumb of each 
hand and twisting it in contrary directions. Of course if 
the fiber is flat it will look like a long miniature screw, 



454 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

because of the angular twist. Gut that is old, or has been 
exposed to the sunlight, becomes brittle, and will break like 
a carrot. Refuse this always. 

To keep good gut in a fine state of preservation — and 
really good gut is worth keeping — the following is a capital 
formula: take chromic acid, one part; water, five parts; dis- 
solve the chromic acid. Of this solution take one ounce, 
and mix with five parts glycerine. Steep the gut ten days; 
at the end of that time submerge the gut and keep it entirely 
in one part carbolic acid and five parts glycerine. This is 
unequaled as a preparation of gut for tying, and as a pre- 
servative afterward. 

Of course when one is not preparing to tie leaders for 
Salmon, such elaborate precautions are not necessary. For 
Bass and Trout (brook and the Von Behr species) the ordi- 
nary thicknesses in use are suitable. Before tying this 
together it should be soaked in water of about 80 degrees Fah. 
for an hour or two. Each knot should be drawn tight with 
a pair of tweezers; and the leader, for the sake of appearance 
chiefly, may be stretched on a long board by means of brass 
pins, till dry. The length of leaders varies from one yard to 
three — the latter is the general length for Trout-fishing. 
Besides the two end-loops, two others should be tied in the 
junctions for the admission of the snells of two dropper-flies. 
The proper distance of the first from the terminal loop should 
not be less than twenty inches, and the second should be 
two feet from the first. 




Fig. 8. 
In the tying of snells it is frequently advisable to reinforce 
that part nearest the hook, because the teeth of the fish fre- 
quently fray it disastrously. I have found nothing superior 
to the device shown in fig. 8. Of course the knotting there 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



455 



shown is drawn snug and tight, and the result is tJiree 
strands nearest the fish's teeth. If two be preferred, a 
long loop is simply tied and cut through at its apex, leaving 
the two strands to be joined to the hook. 

Horse-hair is seldom used for leaders nowadays, for 
the reason that it is not strong enough. It is exceedingly 
rare to find hair capable of lifting more than two pounds. 
If fine gut be scarce, however, the resourceful angler will 
not disdain a few hairs from the "gray palfrey's tail." The 
hair of a stallion is preferable to that of a mare or gelding. 

Silk, in its manufactured state of course, forms the staple 
of reel-lines. These are commonly braided by a machine, 
sufficiently indicated in fig. 9. The various grades and 

IJ 




Fig. 9. 
gauges most suitable for each fish will be given when the 
tackle for them is considered, and therefore it would be a 
work of supererogation to recite them here. The dressings 



45^ AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

of the lines most in use, also, will be given under the appro- 
priate heading. Gimp is extremely useful on which to 
mount gangs, spoons, etc. , for the more voracious fish, such 
as Pickerel, Pike, Mascalonge, etc. The difficulty in pro- 
curing good gimp is rather considerable, if it be bought from 
the ordinary retailers. There is much adulteration going on, 
and the core of the gimp, which should be pure silk, is too 
often nothing but a mixture of silk and cotton. The best 
plan I know of is to buy banjo strings; these are splendidly 
strong, and though more expensive, are incomparably more 
satisfactory than the ordinary silvered gimp. If the silver 
brightness is too ostensible, it may be turned to a dark 
neutral color by the use of the following solution: bichloride 
platinum, one part; water, ten parts — or sulphide of potas- 
sium, one part; water, ten parts, will do as well. 

A splendid substitute for fine gimp is a banjo string with 
core of fine steel wire covered with silvered wire. It makes 
the best kind of trace for Pickerel or Mascalonge. 

SECTION 3— WAXES, VARNISHES, LINE-DRESSINGS AND STAINS. 

In order to clear the ground as I go, it is now proper to 
speak of the waxes that are necessary to the fly-tier and 
general maker of tackle. The old-time wax was that used by 
shoemakers; and for stickiness and generally reliable endur- 
ance it is, without question, as good as any. But it some- 
times becomes necessary to show the color of the tying silk, 
and especially does this natural color show to advantage on 
flies of delicate colors, and on light-hued rods. This being 
so, a colorless wax was the desideratum, and the following 
are recipes I have used with satisfaction. I give them in 
their order of excellence, according to my experience: 

I. One pound clean white resin; melt it over a slow fire. 
Four oz. diachylon ; add to the resin and stir till thoroughly 
incorporated, then add two ozs. Bergundy pitch. Pour out 
into a vessel of cold water and pull till cold. The more it is 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 457 

pulled the whiter it gets. The wax is suitable especially for 
Salmon fly tying, where grease is likely to be detrimental to 
the fine shades of silk employed, 

2. Two ozs. best yellow resin; one drachm white beeswax 
sliced; dissolve, then add two and one-half drachms fresh 
lard. Pour out into water and pull till cold. 

3. Yellow resin, twenty-three drashms; beeswax, thirteen 
drachms; suet (without skin) two and one-half drachms; 
melt together and pour into water, pulling till cold as before. 

Either of the above recipes may be rendered tougher and 
more sticky by the addition of say five per cent, of gutta- 
percha — the sheet gutta-percha is the best. 

With these formularies the tyro is well supplied. It will 
perhaps be necessary to keep all of these in moderately warm 
quarters, that they do not become brittle, but in summer 
they should be stored, either in clean water or in a cellar 
where the temperature is not liable to great change. 

The most useful all-round varnish is that made from 
bleached shellac. It can be manufactured by the amateur 
without difficulty, from alcohol and pulverized bleached 
shellac; but it is better to buy it from some good varnish- 
maker, because there is the certainty of its having been 
matured, in that case, before it is offered for sale. This 
shellac varnish requires to have been made quite a long time, 
before it is at its best for use on flies, hooks, and whipping 
generally. When using it, it should occasionally be thinned 
with a little 95-per-cent. alcohol. It ought to penetrate — 
not simply lie on the outside of the whipping. 

Here is a "wrinkle" worth knowing, in connection with all 
alcohol varnishes: Alcohol has a strong affinity for water, 
and extracts it from the atmosphere whenever the cork is 
out of the varnish-bottle. Of course the amount it attracts 
is infinitesimal, but "many mickles make a muckle," as the 
Scotch say, and the least amount of water in the varnish 
tends to render it less resisting to moisture. To cure this I 



458 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

place a few slips of gelatine in the varnish. This gelatine in 
turn attracts the water from the varnish, and the proof of 
this is the swollen and damp appearance of these strips 
when one reaches them, as the varnish is used up. 

This varnish is the one I use for all work where silk is 
employed for whipping, binding, etc., and as it dries rapidly 
and is transparent and hard, it is very satisfactory. 

Another good orange-colored varnish is that made from 
the unbleached shellac. Take alcohol, three ounces; shellac, 
one and one-half ozs. ; gum benzoin, one-half oz. ; mix, cork, 
and stand in a warm place till dissolved. 

The best coach-varnish is unapproachable for rods. It 
should of course be applied by means of a camel's-hair brush, 
in a room where no dust is flying about. 

Another good varnish is the following quick-drying one: 
Cut the whitest pieces of copal with oil of rosemary, and add 
alcohol in small quantities, shaking well. All of the above 
hints are the result of actual experience, and can be relied 
on. 

The dressings for lines are numerous, and the differences of 
opinion in regard to them are legion. My own experiments 
have led me to discard the so-called enameled line. It is 
true the enamel looks very pretty, but it encases the line as in 
a tube, and in the casting of the line from the reel the sharp 
angles described by the line and the top of the rod breaks 
this tube, letting in the water. This moisture soaks far into 
the line, beneath parts which are intact, and hence, from 
this spreading on either side of the broken enamel, the line 
may become rotten without showing a particle of wear on 
the surface. The result is, a lost fish, at some time when 
you most required that fish — and of course the lost fish is the 
biggest you ever caught ! That is always the case. 

Boiled linseed oil is, without qualification, the best dress- 
ing I know of. It takes a long time to dry, but it is a true 
preservative. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 459 

The following are good dressings also, and I have used 
them all with success at different times. (The secret of 
keeping lines in good shape is to put little dependence on 
■dressings, and more on drying the line, each time after using. 
Never omit this attention. Those reels on the market that 
profess to obviate the necessity for this, are a delusion and a 
snare. A perforated reel-plate is a good thing to aid in dry- 
ing off the line, but the latter should always be unwound on 
a chair before the firq or stove, and thoroughly dried.) 

1. Boiled oil and best coach-varnish, equal parts; mix at 
blood heat, and immerse line twelve hours. 

2. Boiled oil and gold size, equal parts. 

3. Boiled oil, one pint; beeswax, one-fourth pound. Put 
the oil in an earthenware jar and stand this in a pan of water, 
kept boiling. Add the wax in small shavings. Immerse 
line when the dressing is still hot. 

4. Half a pint boiled oil; three-fourths oz. beeswax; one 
and one-half ozs. Burgundy pitch; one tablespoonful copal 
varnish. Raise the heat of this mixture a little above the 
heat necessary to make a complete solution. Allow the line 
to remain in it at least twelve hours, keeping in a warm place 
all the time. 

5. One-fourth oz. beeswax; one-half pint boiled oil; one- 
fourth pint gold size. Immerse line a few hours, keeping 
the dressing hot; stretch and dry. 

6. Paraffine wax, i pound; yellow resin, one-fourth pound. 
Melt and immerse line. Rub off superfluous wax with a damp 
cloth. The line requires to be drawn from the hot mixture 
through a hole in the lid of the receptacle, because it cools 
so fast. A beautiful surface can be obtained by using this 
dressing, but it is not a very lasting one. Of course the 
dressing can be renewed at will and therefore it is an entirely 
valuable one to take in the woods, when camping. 

All the above dressings are applied by soaking, and, with 
the exception of No. 6, all are then taken out and stretched 



460 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

where dust and rain cannot get to them. The superfluous 
dressing is then carefully rubbed off, by aid of a piece of 
chamois leather held between the finger and thumb. A part 
of an old kid glove will do admirably, if the chamois is not 
convenient. 

Quite a large number of feathers, etc., require the aid of 
the dyes, and I may as well at once give a few recipes for 
staining wool, feathers, gut, etc. 

First, as to gut: The analine dyes are not suitable, unless 
very largely diluted, because they are, in the majority of cases, 
corrosive, and destructive of the silk fiber of the gut. 

Mist-color: This is produced as follows: Take a piece of 
copperas about the size of a coffee-bean, and dissolve it in a 
cup of boiling water. Now take a teaspoonful of logwood 
chips and infuse them in a half-pint of water (boiling). When 
the temperature of the infusion has lowered to about 100 
degrees, immerse the gut and let it remain till it seems to 
have well taken the dark wine-color of the infused logwood. 
Then turn in the solution of copperas. The result will be, 
the "misf'-color — so carefully guarded as a secret by more 
than one tackle- maker. The shade must of course be a mat- 
ter of experiment, as in all dyeing. 

For feathers the Diamond Dyes, to be gotten at any drug- 
store, are both convenient and effectual. The feathers need 
thoroughly washing and rinsing, and to be dyed whilst wet. 
The directions that are given for silk, on the packets, may 
be applied to feathers in every particular. 

Hackles should be tied on sticks, and when dyed the sticks 
should be whirled between the palms of the hands till the 
feathers are dry. They then assume their original shape. 

Black is a difficult color to dye, and yet it is often indis- 
pensable. I have got a good black by soaking the hackles 
in acetate of iron (warm solution) and then boiling in an 
infusion of madder and logwood. 

Dun hackles are also very difficult to get natural. White 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 46 I 

feathers are boiled in a mordant of alum and water, and then 
in an infusion of fustic, sumac, and a small portion of cop- 
peras. 

Some writers prefer alum as a mordant in all cases, and I 
am not sure it is not the very best one can employ. The 
proportions should be one oz. alum to one quart boiling water 
and the feathers should remain in this solution quite a long 
time — say twelve hours, if delay is of no consequence. The 
very killing colors of the smaller flies are often exceedingly 
difficult to arrive at, and the following recipes from Halford's 
fine work on the "Floating flies" used on the chalk streams 
of England, may be found useful. I have tried them and 
they are very satisfactory. 

Green Olive: Tea-cup ebony chips in a quart of water, to 
which is added a piece of chrome potash about the size of a 
small pea. Boil down to a pint; fill up and boil down to a 
pint again. Pour off, and add three drops of muriate of tin, 
then immerse the feathers and dry as usual. 

Medium Olive: Boil for two or three hours two good 
handfuls of the outside brown leaves of onions in distilled or 
fresh- caught rain-water, to which is added sufficient good vin- 
egar to make it perceptibly acid. The addition of a piece of 
copperas will darken the dye. 

Brown Olive: Add to the above a small quantity of black 
tea and a small piece of copperas — the more of the latter that 
is used the browner will be the solution. 

There are several varieties of the "May flies," "Canada 
soldiers," etc., all comprised under the order Neuroptera — 
genus Ephemera — and all have wings shaded more or less with 
a greenish tinge. The best stain I know of to imitate the 
natural tint is as follows: 

Natural Tint: One quart soft water; one-half tea-cup ebony 
-chips; chrome potash, size of pea. After dyeing the feathers 
in this bath, rinse thoroughly and immerse momentarily 
in very light-green Diamond-dye solution, to which a little 



462 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



slate has been added. Of course one must be watchful not tO' 
allow the latter bath (or indeed the former) to become too 
deep in color. 

Slate Color: Handful logwood chips; quart boiling water; 
copperas, size of a small nut. I find it best to soak the 
feathers well in the infusion of logwood first, and then add 
the copperas, stirring till it dissolves. 

Practically the above answers all the requirements of the 
amateur tackle-maker, and though there are more tints 
required b}' the professional Salmon and Trout fly maker, 
they are all more or less matters of experiment on the emerg- 
ency. The tyro will naturally achieve these as he goes on, and 
the foregoing is ample foundation for him to work upon. 

SECTION 4 HOOKS. 

The selection of the best hook for "all-round" fishing is 
more difficult than at first appears. Experience alone teaches 
the make to be depended on in the majority of cases. And 



Uvj 




Aberdeen. Dublin Limer- Kendal Sneck Carlisle 
ick or 
O'Shaughnessy 

Fig. 10. 



Sproat 



Turn Down 
and Limerick 



the experiences of anglers differ just as widely as do their 
scenes of operation. One man swears by the O'Shaugh- 
nessy, and his neighbor by the Sproat; both are justified by 
their experience. It is only after gathering the consensus 
of opinions and reinforcing this by studious experiment that 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 463 

one is entitled to speak authoritatively. I have done this 
carefully, and here declare that, at the time of writing, the 
"Dublin-Limerick", or "O'Shaughnessy", at present is the 
best all-round hook, followed closely by the "Sproat" bend 
of hook. 

In order to make plain this matter of shapes to the unini- 
tiated, I give, in fig. lo, the different kinds chiefly used in 
fresh water, as manufactured by Allcock, of Redditch — the 
largest tackle-maker, in the world. 

The process of manufacture has been so often described 
that I do not think it is necessary to here again repeat it. 
Those who are curious on the subject will find it described 
at length in my book, "Fishing-Tackle — Its Materials and 
Manufacture" (Ward, Lock & Co., 33 Bond-st. New York). 

Of all the shapes of hooks, as I have said, the Dublin-Lim- 
erick is the nearest to perfection; and personally, I prefer 
this hook, eyed with the bashful turn-down eye, as shown. 
The eye obviates the tying on of a snell, of course, and it 
has this supreme advantage: when the gut is at all worn or 
frayed, it is not necessary to discard the hook. All you have 
to do is to cut off the gut and re-tie. This advantage is 
patent to everybody. 




Fig. II. 
This section would be incomplete if I did not here pause 
and tell how to tie and re-tie the knots referred to. There 
are four really good ways of tying, but on the whole I prefer 
fig. 12. It is the one I always use myself, and has never 
drawn or failed me in any way. I do not say the others 



464 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



are not good, but my experience declares for this one. 
Fig. II is thus tied: Take the fly by the bend, in the posi- 
tion shown, with the eye turned upward. Pass two or three 
inches of the end of the leader (B), previously well moistened, 
through the eye (A), tcnvai-d tJie point of tJie hook; and then, 
letting go of the fly, double back the gut and make a single 
slip-knot (C) round the center line (D). Next draw the slip- 
knot tight enough only to admit of its passing freely over the 
hook-eye (A), then run it down to and over the said eye, when, 
on gradually pulling the central link (D) tight, the jam knot 
is automatically formed. Cut off the end of gut, and you 
have a knot which will not draw, or allow the hook to hang 
Jiinged, loosely, as it were. 




Fig. 12. 

Fig. 12 is far less intricate, and explains itself. Take care 
to pull the end (A) as tight as you can get it. Then draw it 
down to the eye, giving a good pull to fix it. 




lit Slaije 



zr*^ Stage 
(l;!iot Kompleh) 



S'"' Sfwre 
Fig. 13- 

Fig. 13 is thus described: First stage, pass the end of the 
line (A) through the hook-eye (B), and run the hook a few 
inches up the line, out of the way; then make a running 
noose (C) with the slip-knot (D), and draw the said knot 
as tight as possible. Second stage: Run down the hook 
.again to the position shown in first stage, and passing the 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 465 

noose (C) over it, pull the line (E) quite tight, cutting off the 
spare end. This completes the knot, and it appears as shown 
in third stage. 




Fig. 14. 

In fig. 14 we have an exceedingly useful knot where addi- 
tional strength appears necessary — if indeed further security 
can be added to the foregoing. Salmon fishermen prefer 
this knot, if only because it looks surer — and it is possible, on 
second thoughts, that it is so in reality, because of the greater 
ratio in the size of the hook. 

It is thus tied: Take the hook by the bend, between the 
finger and thumb of the left hand, and with the eye turned 
downward, in the position shown in the diagram; then — the 
gut of course having been well softened — push the end a 
couple of inches or so dozvu through the eye (B) toward the 
point of the hook, then pass it round over the shank of the 
hook, and again from the opposite side downward through 
the eye, in a direction away from the hook-point (the gut- 
end and the central link will now be lying parallel) ; make 
the double slip-knot (A) round the central line or link (C), 
and pull the said knot perfectly tight; then draw the loop 
of gut together with the knot (A) backward (toward the tail 
of the fly), until the knot presses tightly into and against the 
metal eye of the hook (B), where hold it firmly with the fore- 
finger and thumb of the left hand, whilst with the right 
hand, the central link is drawn tight, thus taking in the 
slack of the knot. Cut off the end and the knot is finished. 

To tie a double slip-knot: make a single slip (see a, fig. 
I 5) and before drawing it close, pass the gut-end (B) a sec- 

30 



466 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ond time round central link c, and then again through the 
loop (a), then the knot will be like (A) in fig. 14. To finish, 
pull the end of the gut (C) gradually, and at last very tightly 



tig. 15- 
— straight away in a line that is with the central link (C). 

SECTION 5 FLY-FISHING. 

Tackle for angling may be conveniently divided into three 
categories: i. Tackle for top- water fishing — fly-fishing with 
artificial insect. 

2. Tackle for mid-water fishing — trolling, bait-fishing, 
live-baiting, etc. 

3. Tackle for bottom-fishing — fishing for Bull-heads, Eels, 
Suckers, etc. 

The distinctions between the tackles used for these differ- 
ent styles are not arbitrary, of course. They are merely 
adopted for convenience, and to aid the tyro in referring. 




Fig. 16. 

(i) Tackle for Top-water Fishing. — (a) — the Fly. — 
Fly-fishing with the artificial fly is par excellence the chief 
of all sports — and the chief item of the necessary outfit is, 
without question, the artificial fly. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



467 



I take it for j^rantcd that all of my readers are familiar 
with the appearance of an artificial fiy, as made after the con- 
ventional pattern. However, to bring the ensemble more 
vividly before their notice, fig. 16 is interpolated. That it is 
not at all like a fly, in detail, is nothing to my present pur- 
pose. It is what Dudley Warner terms a "conventionalized 
creation, " not an imitation ; and it undoubtedly does catch fish ! 

There is probably no more fascinating work than the making 
of these dainty fur-and-feather lures; and I shall not waste 
time in further preface, but, assuming that the reader desires 
to learn how to "dress" a fiy. I beg him to at once begin with 
me the construction of his first "brown hackle" — which I 
choose as being the simplest form of so-called artificial fiy. 

To Make the "Pennell" Brown Hackle. — Take a hackle 
(proportioned to the size of the hook) and having bound the 
hook on with waxed silk, lay it on the end of the shank, as 




Fig. 17. 
shown at fig. 17, with the under concave side upward. Tie it 
securely. Then take the tip between the forefinger and 
thumb of the right hand, and take several turns around the 
hook-shank (see fig 18); tie as shown. Let the turns be 
sufficient in number to allow of as much remaining hackle as 
is shown in fig 18. This hackle is then bound tightly side 
by side of the shank, and a double hitch secures it at a point 
about opposite the barb. The projecting remainder of the 
hackle forms a tail. 



468 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



This is the simplest fly made, and it can be manufactured 
from almost any small feather in fifty seconds — a boon to 
the angler in the woods who prefers the fly to the bait. 

To Make the Ordinary Brown Hackle. — Here I must 




Fig. I8. 
diverge a little, and explain a very important labor-saving 
method of preparing the hackle for all kinds of flies (and 
necessarily of course for the "brown hackle"). 

It is easy to see, if one takes the hackle fresh from the 
rooster's neck, that it is almost impossible to roll it evenly 
round the shank of a hook, unless it is done as recommended 




Fig. 19. 

for the "Pennell " hackle, and this method is far from neat, 
or satisfactory in any way, when applied to the finer-winged 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



469 




Fie:. 20. 



470 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



flies. The fibers are apt to get criss-crossed, and entangled, 
one with the other, and the result is, a mass of fibers as in- 
eTfectual as unsightly. To obviate this, the hackle is taken, 
and after stripping off the fluffy feathers from the butt-end, 




Fig. 21 . 
the fibers are stroked carefully in the reverse direction until 
they resemble fig. 19. 

The next process is to attach a pair of pincers to each end 
as in fig. 20. Now let an assistant take A firmly whilst the 




tyro grasps B in his left hand. Passes are now made on 
each side of the mid-rib, as shown, with the forefinger of 
the right hand, bringing the nail close to the roots of the 
fibers. This proceeding doubles them back and downward 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



471 



until they assume the position shown in fif^. 21. This "turn- 
ing- of the hackle" is one of the trade "kinks" which is here 
fully explained in a printed volume for the first time. 

But to resume the making of the "Brown Hackle." The 
hook is duly attached to the snell, and the body of the fly 
formed for which see figs. 18, 19, p. 468, and the hackle turned 
ready for attachment. Fig. 22 shows where this attachment 
is made. The tip with the fibers turned back is placed as 
indicated and securely fastened — ^the tying silk coming up 
toward the end of the shank being retained between the gut 
and the shank as shown in fig. 22. Then the hackle is wound 
in a spiral whose coils are close side by side, and finally tied 
at the end of the shank by means of two half-hitches. The 




final result is shown at fig. 23, and is a very killing lure, 
wherever it is presented, to any and all fish that take the fly. 
Of course the size of hook varies from the smallest 14 or 16 
for Pennsylvania Trout to the number i-o and 2-0 for the 
Black Bass of Michigan waters. 

When the tyro has made a few dozens of these two hackles 
he will be prepared to learn how to make a fly like fig. 16. 



472 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



This is the way: Fig. 24 represents the hook tied on and 
secured by means of a half-hitch (A). The tying silk is then 
run up by wide coils toward the end of the shank. Next, two 
shps of feather taken from two feathers from the right and 




Fig. 24. 

left wings of a bird are laid on each other so that they are of 
one size perfectly. They are then taken between the left 
forefinger and thumb and arranged by side of the hook as 




shown in fig. 25. Whilst in this position the silk is passed 
round them (they are still lying flat) and as the finger and 
thumb grasps them somewhat tightly the thread is drawn 
tight and the ends are whipped down the shank as shown at 
fig. 26. 

The next operation is to form the body. Suppose, for 
example, it is to be yellow silk ribbed with silver tinsel and 
brown hackle tail— the silver tinsel A is tied in first, then the 
floss silk (cable silk is good) B, and next the three fibers of 
cock's hackle at C, fig. 26. Then the silk is rolled up taper- 
ingly, and fastened off by the whipping silk; then the silver 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



473 



tinsel is wound in wide coils for the ribbing, and finished off 
duly. 

Now the i^y lacks the hackle. This is attached in precisely 
the same way as in the case of the brown hackle (see fig. 27) 




Fig. 26. 

and finished off. Then the wing is turned or reversed and 
tied down. The end of whipping silk is clipped off, the head 
is touched with varnish, and your fly is done, and resembles 
fig. 16. 

The foregoing terse directions form the foundation of 
f^y-making. The angler who can make his flies from them 
has conquered the chief difficulties. All other flies are com- 
paratively easy — in proportion to the amount of time 
expended in practice on these primary specimens. 



474 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

A description of the flies represented on the colored plates 
may here fitly be introduced, and the more so because the 
majority of them are departures from the usual patterns. 

Plate i A. — Poor Man's Fly. — ^Body, worsted or seal's 
fur; hackle, white; wings, gray turkey wing-feather. 




Fig. 27, 

B. — Brown Squirrel Hackle. — The body of this capital 
Bass and Trout fly is composed of a strip of brown or red 
squirrel fur; the hackle is a reddish-brown one from the game 
rooster; tail-fibers from ibis wing-feather. 

C. — Black JuNE(quill body). — This is a new dressing of a 
favorite fly for Bass. The ordinary "Black June" is endowed 
with a peacock herl body, and this being frail, soon gets cut 
by the sharp teeth of the fish. 

To obviate the danger of this, I make it of a strip of quill 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 475 

torn from the mid-rib of a crow's feather. (If I am making 
Trout sizes I get this from the red-winged blackbird.) The 
wings are double and water-proofed crow feather. 

This water-proofing process for Bass and the larger Trout 
I conceive to be a great improvement. The feather is natu- 
rally held together by means of the clinging, hooked processes, 
to be found on the two sides of each fiber. These, however, 
are very feeble, as compared with the strength and ferocity 
of the fish, and ordinarily the first fish tears the wings into 
a straggling, shapeless mass. The semblance of a wing is 
hopelessly gone. Moreover, the feather gets water-logged 
and "soggy" and generally demoralized, so that the fastidious 
fisherman feels like putting on a fresh fly — especially if the 
quarry are not rising very freely. 

My method of getting over this difficulty — to a very satis- 
factory degree, at all events — is to water-proof the feather 
precisely in the same way that water-proof sheeting is made. 
A water-proof preparation impregnates two surfaces of 
feather, and these are placed one on the other, and submit- 
ted to pressure. This forms one wing. The same process 
is of course necessary for the other, and thus four slips of 
feathers are used instead of two only, and they are rendered 
not less pliable, but tougher, and not likely to separate into 
fibers of independent directions at the touch of the fish. 
Moreover, the water cannot wet them through, any more 
than it can a rubber coat. 

D. — Mouse-Fly.- — Trout and bass will take mice, if the fish 
be large and the mice small. Some makers produce a pretty 
close imitation of the quadruped himself; but in the fly before 
the reader its color only can be said to be counterfeited. 
The body of this fly is of muskrat-fur, the end of body tipped 
red silk and tinsel. The wings are from the gray goose, or 
brant, and should be lead-colored dun in hue. 

E. — White Moth, for Trout. — Body quill stripped from 



4/6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

white dove's quill-feathers; ribbed yellow silk under quill; 
wings, white dove; hackle, white leghorn rooster. 

F. — FiTZ-MAURiCE. — Body, black chenille, and red silk 
ribbed gold tinsel; tail, peacock fibers; hackle, yellow; wing, 
mallard breast-feather. 

G. — Reuben Wood. — Tag, red silk; tail, fibers brown 
mallard; body, white chenille; hackle, brown; wing, mallard 
breast-feather. 

H. — Straw Floater {EpJicvieridie). — This fly is an imi- 
tation of the May flies (Ephemeridas) and the body can vary 
in color according to the fly to be imitated. It is made of 
rye-straw, dyed and softened by soaking in warm water. A 
suitable length is then cut and placed round a hog's bristle to 
which has been attached the whisks to form the tail. It is 
then secured in place by the tying silk being wound spirally 
in loose coils around it and finally attached to the hook which 
has already been tied to the gut. The wings are commonly 
two small separate feathers of the mallard breast, and may 
be stained or not according to the necessities of the case. 
These flies float on the water and are very killing, being such 
close imitations of the natural insect. 

I. — QuiLL-BODiED Gray Dun. — The quill-body is from the 
feather of the moor or water hen, and is possessed of a lighter 
and darker strip each side so that when wound on it success- 
fully imitates the ringed markings of the actual insect. The 
wings are the dun under-feather of the mallard or wild- 
duck's wing, and the hackle is a blue dun from a rare breed 
of chickens I managed to secure one day when I was in luck. 

K. — Parmacheene Belle. — This handsome fly is my first 
example of the compound wing. With care the red ibis and 
white goose feather can be "married" together and turned as 
one feather. The hackle is white first and then red; body, 
yellow seal's fur ribbed with broad silver tinsel; and ending 
with a tag of peacock tail, two slips of feathers — ibis and 
white goose or swan. 

L. — Abbey. — This well-known fly is thus dressed: wing, 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



477 



teal-breast; body, cardinal silk; tag, peacock herl; tail, libers 
from golden pheasant tippet; hackle, brown. 

M. — Alexandra. — This fly is formed as follows, and is an 
instance of a bunch of separate fibers forming the wings. 
Wing of peacock feathers; tail of peacock fibers; body, white 
silk ribbed silver tinsel; tag, red silk; hackle, white. This is 
the invention of an English Trout-breeder and sportsman, 
the late Col. Gerald Goodlake. He used it with great success 
in taking the large American Brook Trout he bred for his fish- 
ery. By the way, these fish grew to six and seven pounds 
weight, and then disappeared — probably down-stream to 
the ocean. 

Plate 2. — N. — Silver Doctor — Salmon Fly. — This fly 

L K 




g) H 



is a superb creation, and as productive of sport as it is 
handsome to look at. (Before describing it, however, it is 
necessary to make the reader acquainted with the technical 
names of the different parts of a fly. As these are more 
numerous in the Salmon-fly, I give in fig. 28, the diagram of 



4/8 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

a representative one — the "Greenwich fancy," which will 
serve the double purpose of enlightening the tyro as to the 
parts of both Troiit and Salmon fly — so far at least as the 
technology of both is concerned. In the Trout-fly there 
are necessarily less parts, but the names of those that are 
present are the same as on the Salmon-fly. The "Green- 
wich fancy" (fig 28) is thus described: A, tail; B, iron or 
hook; C, tag; D, butt; E, body; F, throat-hackle (also 
extending down the body;; G, head; H, loop or gut snell; I, 
cheeks; J, outer wing; K (topping of golden pheasant), over- 
wing; L, feeders or horns; M, wing). 

'Silver Doctor,' is thus described: Tag, silver tinsel and 
yellow silk. Tail, golden pheasant topping (feather from 
the crest or top of the head of the bird) ; butt, dark scarlet 
wool; body, sliver tinsel, flat-ribbed in a wide coil with 
silver wire; throat-hackle, of guinea-fowl feather and white 
hackle dyed blue; wings, connected strands of golden pheas- 
ant-hackle (or tippet, as it is termed) ; wood-duck, pintail 
duck, golden-pheasant tail, swan (a goose), dyed light 
yellow and light blue; strips, of mallard and bustard, and. 
the over-wing a topping (golden pheasant crest); horns, 
blue macaw (fibers from the quill- feather) ; head, dark- 
scarlet wool. 

O.— Dark Dun {EpJicmcridce). — This fly is made of a new 
material, with the exception of the legs, which are of horse- 
hair, of which the interior of the body is also formed. 
This material is the membrane found on the under sur- 
face of the large silvery scales of the Tarpon (Silver 
King, — specific name, mcgalops thrissoidcs), found in 
southern waters. It is the toughest membrane in nature, 
and has several peculiarly valuable properties. First, it 
is capable of being procured so thin as to be finer 
than the insect's wing itself. It takes a dye readily, 
and, when both out and in the water, stands erect, as 
shown in the illustration. When dry it is rather stiff and 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 479 

quill-like, but unlike quill it softens right down when wet, 
becoming more pliant than feather, and yet retaining — 
in fact increasing — its toughness. Both the body and wing 
of this liy are of this material; the legs are of hair, and I 
need scarcely say it is almost indestructible. No wonder the 
tackle-makers do not care to make these flies — and it is a 
fact that they are slow to take them up. 

P.— Yellow May Fly. — This beautiful and favorite fly is 
found very plentifully on northern streams, during summer 
and the "counterfeit presentment" on plate 2 is an exact imi- 
tation. The wings are stained Tarpon membrane, the legs are 
horse-hair, and the body is of horse-hair wound round with 
horse-hair. The tail consists of two fibers of the mallard 
breast-feather. I leave it to the unprejudiced reader to say 
if a nearer imitation of an actual insect is possible. 

Q and R are two forms of the favorite "brown hackle." Q 
is the palmer hackle and R the brown hackle. 

S. — Grasshopper-Fly. — Why this is so called I do not 
know. Orvis & Co. (tackle-makers), figure it in their 
elaborate catalogue, "Fishing With the Fly," but it certainly 
resembles no grasshopper of this sublunary sphere. All the 
same, it is a good Trout-fly, and with it I have taken some 
big fish. It is thus dressed: Tag, silver tinsel and green silk; 
tail, yellow swan and wood-duck (the black-and-white-tipped 
feather); body, brown silk; hackle, cardinal; wing jungle- 
cock feather, with over-wing of red ibis and yellow swan 
(dyed) ; head, peacock herl. 

T. — Adjustable Bass or Lake Trout Fly. — There is 
a peculiarity about this fly which demands close attention. 
It is made in two sections, on a system new to fly-makers. 
The body and tail are formed on the hook, and a thin tube 
of brass, or even quill, is inserted, after the fashion of the 
female ferrule of a rod. The hackle and wings are tied 
securely on a pin, which, when inserted into the aforesaid 



48o 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



tube, fits snugly and completes the tout oiscmble. The 
hook-part, of course, is securely attached to the snell, and 
the adjustable wings and legs do not throw out, but are 
naturally tightened by the water. 

This novel invention is (like all the other novelties 
described in these articles), my own, and I claim for it quite 
an extended range of usefulness. It often happens that the 
Bass, Trout, and even Salmon fisherman finds it necessary 
to change his fiies till the right color and arrangement are 
hit upon. If he possess twelve only of these sets of adjustable 
flies — that is, twelve bodies, twelve wings, etc., — he can 
make twelve dozen — or 144 — different changes, and a gross 





Fig. 29. 

of these flies, costing no more than a gross of first-class flies 
ever do, will provide him with — not 144, as would be the 
case with a gross of ordinary flies — but twenty thousand 
seven hundred and thirty-six changes — sufficient to last a 
life-time. It should be said that the adjustable system is 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 48 1 

applicable to all sizes of hooks larger than number 8 (Red- 
ditch numbering-). 

U. — Cork-bodied Floating Fly. — Body, cork; tail, fiber 
from peacock wing-feather; hackle, brown; shoulder, two 
turns of peacock herl; wing, mallard breast-feather. 

The details of the making of this exceedingly killing fly 
are worth giving. Two bristles are taken, and the fibers 
for the tail are attached by strong tying silk, as in A, fig. 29. 
A slice of good clear cork is then cut (B) and soaked in 
warm water for a few moments to render it pliant. It is 
then wrapped round A, and the tying silk (of appropriate 
color, of course), is rolled round it in wide coils, and the cork 
is then placed on the shank of the hook (C). The coils are 
continued and finally secured. The peacock herl hides the 
junction between cork and hook; the hackle is added, and 
then the wings; and the fly is finished. 

V. — Double-winged Red Spinner. — This feature of 
double-winging not only imitates many of the natural insects, 
but owing to the greater volume of feather (usually from 
some water-bird whose feathers are always most buoyant) it 
renders the fly a floater, when the wings are dried, by whirl- 
ing in the air once or twice between each cast, as is practiced 
on the much-fished streams of England. This is pretty fish- 
ing — to see the fly sailing down, wings erect, on the water, 
until the rising fish takes it with a musical smack of his 
snowy lips. What says Shakespeare.' 

"The pleasantest angling is to see the fish 
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream, 
And greedily devour the treacherous bait." 

X. — The Royal Coachman. — Tail, wood-duck; tag, pea- 
cock herl; body, scarlet silk; shoulder, peacock herl; hackle, 
brown. A splendid all-round fly. 

Z. — Red-legged Grasshopper. — Body, yellowish green 
chenille; legs, mid-rib of hackle, fibers clipped close; wings, 
sparrow small quill-feathers; head, peacock heil. As will be 
observed, this is an imitation of nature. I have tried 

31 



482 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



all kinds of imitations, and this is the one with which to best 
fool Trout, in a clear stream, in the grasshopper season. Of 





course the natural insect is more killing, but this is very effect- 
ual, even in comparison. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



483 



The chief of the flies to be found near water can be very 
closely imitated in gut, for the bodies for quill) and the scale- 
membrane wings are always acceptable, when the insect to 
be copied is possessed of a one-hued wing. Of course, if it 
is of various shades and tints the scale fails and we are 
obliged to resort to, feather. 




A B 

Fig- 31- 

The process of the making of the ordinary gut-bodied, 
detached membrane winged fly is shown in the diagram, fig. 
30. The flattened waste-ends of hank-gut are soaked, and 
drawn between the thumb-nail and finger to straighten them. 
One is then taken and set on, round three or more hog's 
bristles (see A), and continued till the stage B is arrived at. 
The gut is then further wound on, and secured finally by 
the tying silk. Next, the hackle is set on, then the wing. 
This latter is formed thus: Take a piece of scale-membrane, 
and double it — then cut it till the free edges resemble C. 
Next cut a piece out of the fold, as shown by the dotted line 
in C, leaving a minute piece joining the two wings at top and 



484 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

bottom. Next, place it and tie it in situ (see D) ; finally tic 
on a piece of ostrich or peaccok heil for head, as shown. 

Sometimes a fluffy and woolly body is preferred. In such 
cases fig. 31 shows the amateur what to do. Take two 
pieces of well-waxed tying silk and secure them, as shown, 
to the hook. Pick out the fur or wool, etc., and lay it care- 
fully on the left-hand thread; then bring the other on top of 
it, and twist both threads to the left till the two threads 
have gathered up the dubbing satisfactorily. It can then be 
wound on as one thread. This is a far better plan than using 
one thread only and trusting to the stickiness of the wax. 

All the quill-bodied gnats are made from the quill of the 
fibers of the peacock eye-feather. The list of the fiber is 
stripped off, and there remains a parti-colored strip which, 
when wound on the hook as a body, is wonderfully like the 
natural insect. These imitations can be varied indefinitely, 
and the taste of the tier is brought greatly into play in the 
manufacture of these tiny flies. 

In the above directions and explanations sufficient has 
been said to put the learner on the right track, and it is his 
own lack of enthusiasm to blame if he does not profit by 
them. The following are the dressings of the chief and 
most valued patterns of Trout, Bass and lake flies. [Salmon 
flies will be dealt with in another section.] 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



485 



NAMES AND DRESSINGS OF STANDARD TROUT FLIES 
FOR THE AMATEUR FLY DRESSER. 



HACKLES. 



BROWN HACKLE. 

Tag. — (iold tinsel. 

Body.— Peacock herl. 

Hackle.— Brown. 
SCARLET HACKLE. 

TAa.— Gold tiosLl. 

BoDr. — Scarlet silk, ribl)ed, gold tiusel. 

Hackle.— Scarlet. 
WHITE HACKLE. 

Tag.- Gold tinsel. 

Body. — White silk, ribbed, gold tinsel. 

Hackle. — White. 



YELLOW HACKLE. 

TA(i.— Silver tin.sel. 

Body.— Yellow silk, ribbed, silver tinsel. 

Hackle. — Yellow. 
GINGER HACKLE. 

Tag. — Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Light brown wool yarn. 

Hackle.— Light brown (ginger). 
GRAY HACKLE. 



Tag.— Gold tinsel. 
Body. — Green silk, 
Hackle. — Gray, 
rooster. 



ribbed, gold tinsel, 
from Plymouth Rock 



WINGED FLIES. 



COACHMAN. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Peacock herl, ribbed, black silk 
thrc-.d. 

Hacxle. — Brown. 

Wings.— White dove. 
CO VCHMAN, LEADWING. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Peacock herl, ribbed, black silk 
thread. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings. — Leaden feather nnder wing of mal- 
lard. 
COACHMAN, EOYAL. 

Tail. — Fibers of black and white wood-duck 
feather. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — One-third peacock herl, one-third 
scarlet silk one-third peacock herl. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings. — White dove. 
COACHMAN, RED TIP. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel and red silk. 

Body — Peacock herl. 

Hackle. — Brown. 

Wings.— White dove. 
COACHMAN, GILT. 

Tail.— Yellow. 

Tag.— Gold tiusel and two turns cf peacock 
herl. 

Body. — Green silk, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle. — Brown. 

Wings.— White dove. 
COWDUNG. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Yellowish-green wool. 

Hackle. — Brown : clip|)ed and coilcd-up body 

Wings. — Broun hen wing. 

BLUE JAY. 
Tail. — Yellow goose. 
Tag.— Yellow silk. 
Body.- Claret silk. 
Hackle. — Wine color. 
Wings.— Blue jay. 

RED ANT. 

J" AG. — Gold tinsel. 

Body.- Butt of herl, body red silk. 

Hackle.— Scarlet. 

WiSGS.— Ibis. 



GREAT DUN. 

Tail. — Brown mallard. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Brown wool. 

Hackle. — Brown. 

Wings. — Dark lead feather from mallard 
nnder wing. 
CINNAMON. 

Tail. — Brown mallard. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Bright cinnamon-brown wool. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings. — Browu (light) feather from turkey 
tail or wing. 
DEER FLY. 

Tail.— Black hackle. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Bright green silk. 

Hackle.- White. 

Wings.— White dove. 
RED FOX. 

Tail. — Fibers of mallard. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Red- brown wool. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings.— Light dun under feather of mallard. 

GOVERNOR. 
Tag.— Scarlet silk. 
Body. — Peacock herl. 
H \ckle.— Brown. 
Wings.— Dark brown mottled turkey. 

GREEN DRAKE. 
Tail. — Brown mallard. 
Tag.- Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Dirty yellow silk, ribbed, brown. 
Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings.— Mallard breast feather, stained ysl- 
lowish-green. 

AT.DER FLY. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. ' 

Body. — Dark brown wool. 

Hackle.— Black. 

Wings. —Very dark slat ■ duck feather. 
SOLDIER. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Scarlet silk. 

Hackle. — Brown. 

Wings.— Light dun mallard wing. 



486 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



BLACK ANT. 
']' G.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Butt of ostrich, bo(l_v black silk 
Hackle.— Black. 
Wings.— Crow. 

SETH GREEN. 

Tail.— Mallard. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Light green, ribbed, gold or yellow 
Bilk. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings.— Lead feather under mallard's wing. 
PROFESSOR. 

Tail.— Ibis. 

Tag. — Gold tineel. 

Body.— Yellow silk, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings.- Mallard breast feather. 
BLUE PROFESSOR. 

Tail.— Ibis. 

Tag.— Go'd tinsel. 

Body. — Blue silk, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

WRINGS.— Mallard breast feather. 
DARK STONE. 

Tail.— Brown mallard. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Dark chocolate wool. 

H ackle . —Brown. 

Wings.— Mallard back feather (brown). 

SILVER BLACK. 

Tag.— Silver tinsel. 

Body. — Black silk, ribbed, silver. 

Hackle.— Black center, white tips. 

Wings.— Crow. 
SCARLET IBIS. 

Tag. — Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Scarlet, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle. — Scarlet. 

Wings.— Ibis. 
STONE FLY. 

Tail.— Mallard fiber. 

Tag. — Silver tinsel. 

Body.— Gray silk, ribbed, silver. 

Hackle. — Gray dun. 

Wings. — Gray dun lead feather from under 
mallard's wing. 
W^HITE MILLER. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — White chenille. 

Hackle.— White. 

Wings.— White dove. 
FIERY BROWN. 

Tail.— Red, ibis. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Red-brown wool. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings.— Brown hen's wing. 
YELLOW DRAKE. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Yellow silk, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle.- Yellow. 

Wings.— Mallard breast feather, dyed yellow. 
GRIZZLY KING. 

Tail.— Red, ibis. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Green (light), ribbed, gold. 

Hackle. — Grizzly. 

Wings. —Mallard breast feather. 
SOLDIER PALMER. 

Tag. — Gold tinsel. 

Body— Red silk, ribbed, gold, hackle carried 
up the entire length. 

Hackle.— Brown. 



OAK FLY. 

Tail.- Golden pheasant tippet. 

Tag. -Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Yellow silk. 

Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings.- Dark mottled turkey. 
YELLOW MAY. 

Tail.— Brown mallard. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Yellow silk, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle. — Yellow. 

Wings.— Yellow swan or dove (dyed). 
BLACK JUNE. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Ostrich herl. 

Hackle.— Black. 

Wings.— Crow. 
TEAL. 

Tail.— Black hackle. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Dark wine silk. 

Hackle.- Dark green. 

Wings.— Green feather from quills of teal 
wing. 

REUBEN, WOOD. 
Tail. — Brown hackle. 
Tag.— Gold tinsel, and red silk butt. 
Body.— White chenille. 
Hackle.— Brown. 
Wings.— Mallard brea.st feather. 

RED SPINNER. 

Tail.— Brown hackle. 

Tag. — Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Crimson silk, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle.— Red and gold. 

Wings.— Pale dun feather from mallard 
under wing. 
WIDOW. 

Tail.— Black hackle. 

Tag.— Silver tinsel. 

Body.— Blue silk, ribbed, silver. 

Hackle. — Black center, white tips. 

Wings. — Medium dun feather from mallard 
under wing. 
GRASSHOPPER. 

Tail. — Wood-duck, black and white, and 
yellow swan. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Green one-sixth, brown five-sixths. 

H ACKLE .—Wine-color. 

Wings.— Jungle cock. 
STEBBINS. 

Tail.— Mallard. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Blue silk (dark). 

Hackle.— Partridge. 

Wings.— Medium under duck wing. 

OR.\NGE BLACK. 

Tail.— Golden pheasant tippet. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Orange, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle.- Black. 

^V^lNGs.— Black crow. 
COCH-Y-BONADHU, or MARLOW BUZZ. 

Tag.— Gold. 

Body.— Peacock herl and ostrich, half each. 

Hackle.— Brown tips, black center. 

AUGUST DUN. 
Tail.— Two rabbits' whiskers. 
Tag.— Gold. 

Body.— Brown silk, ribbed, jellow. 
Hackle.— Brown. 
WiNGB. — Brown hen's wing feather. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



487 



CIIANTREY. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 
Body. — Peacock herl. 
Hackle.— Brown. 

Wings. — Dark brown mottled turkey quill 
feather. 
ETHEL MAY. 
Tail.— Black hackle. 
Tag.— Gold tinsel. 
Body. — Green, ribbed, gold tinsel. 
Hackle.— Black. 
Wings.— Guinea-fowl feather. 

KATOODLE BUG. 

'I'AIL.— Mallard. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel and blue silk. 

Body.— Light egg-yellow mohair. 

Hackle.- Brown from half-way up body. 

Wings.— Black-and-brown mottled turkey. 
PARMACHEREE BELLE. 

Tail. — White and red, white below. 

Tag.— Silver, butted, peacock herl. 

Body.— Light yellow mohair, picked out and 
ribbed, broad silver tinsel. 

Hackle.- -Red and white. 

Wings. — Red and white, half each. 



WHIRLING FLY. 

Tail.— Ginger hackle. 

Tag.— Gold. 

Body. — Squirrel's red fur, mixed with yel- 
low mohair. 

Hackle.— Ginger. 

Wings.— Darkish lead feather from mallard 
wing. 
BROWN COFLIN. 

Tail.— Mallard fiber. 

Tag.- Gold. 

Body — Gray and bright claret mohair, mixed, 
tipped with orange silk. 

Hackle.— Gray. 

Wings. — Light lead-color. 
PALE EVENING DUN. 

Tail.— Pin-tail libers. 

Tag. — Silver tinsel. 

Body. — Yellow silk (pale lemon), ribbed, 
silver. 

Hackle.— Yellow (lemon). 

Wings.— Pale lead feather, from under wing 
of mallard. 



LAKE TROUT FLIES. 



SILVER DOCTOR. 

Tail.— Wood-duck (black and white barred), 
yellow swan (dyed), and ibis. 

Tag. — Gold and yellow silk, then crimson 
silk. 

Body.- White silk, ribbed, silver tinsel. 

Hackle. — Yellow first, followed by guinea- 
fowl. 

Wings. — Brown mottled turkey, surmounted 
by stripe of ibis. 
SCARLET IBIS. 

Tail. — Brown mallard. 

Tag.- Gold tinsel. 

Body. — Scarlet silk, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle. — Scarlet. 

Wings. — Ibis. 
BLACK JUNE. 

Tag.— Gold. 

BODY. — Peacock herl, ribbed, gold thread. 

Hackle.— Black. 

Wings.— Crow. 
GRAY DRAKE. 

Tag. — Silver. 

Body. — Light leaden-colored silk, ribbad, 
silver tinsel. 

Hackle. — White. 

Wings. — Mallard breast feather. 
(APTAIN. 

Tail.— Ibis and wood-duck barred feather. 

Tag. — Gold and peacock herl (two turns). 

Body. — Lavender silk. 

Hackle.— Wine-color. 

Wings.— Leaden-color feather from mallard 
under wing. 
ACADEMY. 

Tail.— Ibis. 

Tag. — Gold and section of scarlet silk. 

Body. — Peacock herl, ribbed with brown 
hackle. 

Hackle. — Brown. 

W'ings. — Owl's feather from quills, sur- 
mounted with stripe of ibis. 



MONTREAL. 
Tail.— Ibis. 
Tag.— Gold. 

Body. — Crimson, ribbed, gold tinsel. 
Hackle. — Wine-color. 
Wings.— Brown turkey quill feather. 

BEE. 
Tag.— Gold. 
Body.— Peacock herl, ribbed with j-ellow 

chenille. 
Hackle.— Black center, brown tips . 
WiXGS.— Bronze ends of wild-turkey tail. 

TOMAH JO. 

Tail.— Yellow hackle. 

Tag.— Gold and peacock herl (two turns). 

Body. — Silver tinsel. 

Hackle. — Yellow and scarlet, mixed. 

Wings. — Black and white barred wood-duck 
feather. Head, peacock herl. 
BLUE BOTTLE. 

Tag.— Gold tinsel. 

Body.— Blue slik, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle.— Black. 

Wings.— Crow. 
CANADA. 

Tail.— Ibis. 

Tag.— Silver tinsel. 

Body.— Black silk, ribbed, silver. 

Hackle.— Yellow. 

M'iNGs.— Gray turkey quill feather. 

NO NAME. 
Tail.— Ibis. 

Tag.— Gold and scarlet silk. 
Body.— Yellow silk, ribbed, gold. 
Hackle.— Brown. 
Wings. — White swan, over wings of ibis. 



488 



AMERCIAN GAME FISHES. 



BLACK BASS FLIES. 



LA BELLE. 
Tail.— White and pcarlet. 
Tag.— Silver and scark't silk. 
Body.— Blue silk, ribbed, silver. 
HA( KLK.— Blui'. 
Wings.— White swan or goose. 

WHITE MILLER. 
Tag.— Silver. 
Body.— White chenille. 
Hackle.— White. 
Wings.— White swan or goose. 

POLKA. 

Tail.— Brown and wh.te. 

Tag.— Gold. 

Body.— Scarlet silk, ribbed, gold. 

Hackle.— Red. 

Wings.— Guinea-fowl. 

ORIOLE. 

Tail.— Black and yellow. 

Tag.— Gold. 

Body.- Black silk, gold tinsel ribbing. 

Hackle.— Black. 

Wi.NGS.— Orange (dyed goose). 
OCONOMOWOC. 

Tail.— Ginger hackle. 

Tag.— Gold. 

Body.— Yellow silk flight). 

Hackle.- White and dun. 

WRINGS.— Woodcock brown feather. 

LORD BALTIMORE. 
Tail.— Black. 
Tag.— Gold. 

Body.- Orange silk, ribbed, gold. 
Hackle.— Black. 
Wings.— Crow. 



HENSHALL. 
Tail.— Four fibers peacock tail feather. 
Tag.— Gold. 
Body. — Peacock herl. 
Hackle. — Dirty white. 
Wings.— Dove's wing (light drab). 

ALEXANDRA. 

Tail.— Four fibers peacock tail feather. 

Tag. --Silver. 

Body.— Scarlet silk one-fourth, silver tinse! 

rest. 
Hackle.— White. 
Wings. — Fibers of peacock tail feather. 

TRIUMPH. 

Tail. — Parrot. 

Tag.— Gold. 

Body.— Green silk one-half, light brown 

chenille one-half. 
Hackle.— Black. 
Wings. — Crow. 
JUNGLE COCK. 
Tail.— Yellow, scarlet, and peacock herl. 
Tag.— Gold. 

Body.— Yellow silk, ribbed, gold tinsel. 
Hackle.— Yellow. 
Wings. — Jungle cock, head black. 

DA 7 IS. 

Tail.— Yellow and red. 

Tag.— Gold. 

Body.— Yellow silk, ribbed, gold tinsel. 

Hackle. — Green. 

Wings.- Brown turkey, mottled black. 

McCLELLAN. 
Tail.— Ibis. 
Tag.— Silver (broad) . 

Body. — Orange, ribbed, broad silver tinsel. 
Hackle. — Guinea-fowl. 
Wings.— Wood-duck black-and-white barred 
feather. 



The angler who can make a j^ood Trout-fly will find little 




Fig. 32. 

difficulty in the construction of a Salmon-fly, except such as 
will arise from the increased care and greater sense of pro- 
portion necessary. A few words preliminary to tiie intro- 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW T ) MAKE IT. 489 

duction of the dressings of some of the best flies for the 
"lordly" fish will not, however, be out of place. 

The easiest Salmon-fly to make is perhaps the "hackle" 
shown in the illustration. I call it the "Fascinator," and it 
may be thus described: Tail, golden pheasant crest; tag, gold 
tinsel; butt, black ostrich; first section of body, black silk; 
first hackle, black, butted with dark gray ostrich; second 
section; white ribbed silver wire; second hackle, gray, butted 
with black ostrich; third section, dark crimson ribbed gold 
tinsel; third hackle, dark wine-color; head, brown ostrich. 

Now, this hackle is made precisely as if making an ordi- 
nary Trout hackle, and the extra care necessary is expended 
on the selection of the right-sized hackle, and in tying each 
section neatly and smoothly. There is absolutely no diffi- 
culty that care and practice will not overcome. 

The bodies of all Salmon-flies are made in an analogous if 
not similar manner. And the hook being larger, they are in 
reality much easier to construct than the tiny midges and 
gnats of the Trout fisherman. 

The winging of a Salmon-fly, however, presents some diffi- 
culties. Each side must be prepared separately, and it is 
necessary that the fibers of the different feathers should be 
laid with care that their ends be level and not uneven. One 
side is then placed on the other, and the two are lifted up by 
placing the forefinger of the left hand upon them flatly and 
then passing the stiletto or large darning needle underneath. 
By this means the two wings can be lifted from the table 
undisturbed, and embraced by the thumb and finger, then to 
be tied in place strongly and firmly. After the side 
wings are tied the cheeks and top-wing are adjusted, then 
follows the horns, and finally the head — though pre- 
vious to the head being wound on, the whole mass of 
crushed feather-ends should be soaked well through with 
the varnish. There really seems to be little else to be 
said of great importance about Salmon-fly tying. Of 



490 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



course one does not begin to tie a Salmon-fly at first — that 
is the wrong end of the string — but having begun at the A 
B C, in the" Pennell" hackle, and worked on, the amateur will 
find this cJicf d' ccuvrc of the fly-dresser's art by no means so 
unattainable as it looks. 

The following dressings are those of a dozen of the most 
killing combinations known, and are veritable jewels, in 
feather, fur and silk. 

DRESSINGS OF SALMON FLIES. 



BUTCHER. 

Tag.— Silver twist and yellow sillv. 

Tail.— A topping, teal and powdered blue 
macaw. 

Butt.— Black herl. 

Body. — In four equal divisions, beginning 
with light red-claret, and continuing with 
light blue, dark red-claret, and dark blue 
seal's fur. 

Ribs. —Silver tinsel, preceded on large hooks 
by silver lace. 

Hackle. —Natural black from light red-claret 
seal's fur. 

Throat. — Yellow hackle and gallina. 

Wings. — A tippet and breast feather of the 
golden pheasant, back to back, both being 
well veiled ou either side with slight strips 
of teal, golden pheasant tail, gallina, bus- 
tard ana peacock wing, with strands of 
parrot and swan (dyed yellow), aud with 
two-strips of mallard at top. 

Horns. — Blue macaw. 

Cheeks.— Chatterer. 

Head.— Black herl. 
POPHAM. 

Tag.— Gold twist. 

Tail.— A topping aud Indian crow. 

BcTT. —Black herl. 

Body.— In three equal sections, butted with 
black herl. The first dark orange silk, rib- 
bed with tine gold tinsel, having Indian 
crow above and below, as shown; the 
second, or middle joint, of yellow silk, with 
the ribbing and crow's feathers repeated; 
the third, of light blue silk, but witti silver 
ribbing and the crow's feather.*, as before. 

Hackle. Jay, at the throat only. 

Wings.— Tippet, teal, gallina, golden pheas- 
ant tail, parrot, li'_'bt brown mottled turkey, 
bustard, rt'd macaw, yellow macaw (swan, 
dyed yi'llnw for large sizes), with two Strips 
of mallard above and a topping. 

Horns.— Blue macaw. 

Cheeks.— Chatterer. 

Head.— Black herl. 



DURHAM RANGER. 

Tag.— Silver twist and very dark jxllow silk. 

Tail. — A topping aud Indian crow. 

Butt. — Black herl. 

Body.— Two turns of dark orange silk, two 
turns dark red-orange seal's fur; the rest, 
which is about half, black seal's fur. 

Ribbed.- Silver lace and silver tinsel. 

Hackle.— From orange seal's fur, a white 
coch-y-bonddu dyed orange. 

Throat.— Light l)fue hackle. 

Wings.— Four golden pheasant tippet<?, over- 
lapping, and enveloping two projecting 
jungle fowl feathers (back to back), and a 
topping. 

Cheeks. — Chatterer. 

Horns. — Blue macaw. 

Head— Black Berlin wool. 
JOCK SCOTT. 

Tag.— Silver twist and light yellow silk. 

Tail. — A topping and Indian crow. 

Butt.— Black herl. 

Body. — In two equal sections; the first, light 
yellow silk ribbed with fine silver tinsel; 
above and below this are placed three or 
more toucan's leathers, according to the 
size of the hook, extending slightly beyond 
the butt, and followed with three or four 
turns of black herl. In the second half we 
have black silk, with a natural black hackle 
running along it, and ribbed with broader 
silver tinsel (and silver lace ou very large 
hooks). 

Throat. — Gallina. 

Wings.— Two strips of black turkey with 
white tips, two strips of bustard and gray 
mallard, with strands of golden pheasant 
tail, peacock (sword feather), red macaw 
and swan (dyed blue and yellow); above 
there are two strips of mallard, one ou 
either side, and a topping. 

Sides. — Jungle fowl. 

Cheeks. — Chatterer (formerly kingfisher) . 

Horns. — Blue macaw. 

Head.— Black herl. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



491 



DANDY. ^ „ 

Tag.- Silvci twist ana yellow sillc. 

Tail.— A tupping, strands of summer duck 
(barred), and a chatterer feather. 

Butt.— Bhick herl. 

Body.— Silver tinsel (flat), and very hght 
blue silk. 

R1D8.— Silver tinsel (oval). 

TiiuoAT.— A very light blue hackle aau gal- 
lina. 

■^'iNGS.— Twotipppts (back to back) envelop- 
ing Uvo projecting jungle fowl feathers 
(back to back). 

Sides.— Summer duck. 

Cheeks.— Chatterer, and a topping above. 

HoRxs.— Blue macaw. 

Head.— Black Berlin wool. 

CAPTAIN. 

Tag.— Silver twist and light bine silk. 

Tail.— A toppinsr and chatterer. 

Body.- Two turns very dark yellow silk, 
two turns very light orange seal's fur, two 
turns red-claret seal's fur, and finish wiih 
dark blue seal's fur. 

TtiBs.— SiWer tinsel. 

Hackle.- A white coch-y-bonddu, dyed red- 
cJaret, from the very light orange seal's fui. 

Throat. -Light blue hackle and gallina. 

Wings.— Pintail, teal, gallina, peacock wing. 
Amherst pheasant, bnstard and golden 
pheasant tail, swan (dyed light orans;e), 
dark orange, dark claret, and dark blue, 
with two strips mallard abo\e and a top- 
ping. 

Sides. — Jungle fowl. 

IIouNS.— Blue macaw. 

Head.— Black herl. 
SILVER-FLY. 

Tag. — Silver twist and yellow silk. 

Tail. — A topping and unbarred summer 
duck. 

Butt.— Black herl. 

Body. — Silver tinsel (flat) . 

Ribs.— Silver tinsel (oval). 

Hackle. — A silver furnace hackle along the 
body. 

Throat.— \ridgeon. 

Wings. — Golden pheasant tippet, strands and 
tail, bustard, swan (dyed yellow) , gallina, 
powder-bine macaw, mallard, gray mallard, 
and a topping. 

Horns.- Blue macaw. 

Sides. — Jungle fowl. 

Head.— Black Berlin wool. 
GREENWELL. 

Tag. — Silver twist and yellow silk. 

'I'ail. —A topping and jungle fowl. 

Butt.— Black herl. 

]5ody.— Light blue silk. 

Hackle. — The same, colored blue from the 
first turn of the ribs. 

Ribs.— Silver lace and silver tinsel (flat). 



TuiioAT. —Pintail. 

^V'INGS. — Two strips white-tippecl lurk'y 
(black), golden pheasant tail, bustard (lisht 
and dark), gallina, white turkey (dyed 
preen and iscarlct), gray mallard, with two 
strips of mallard abovc'auda topping. 
Sides. — Jungle fowl. 

Horns.- Blue macaw. 

Head.— Black wool. 
BLACK DOSE. 

Tag.— Silver twist and very light orange silk. 

Tail.— A topping, teal and ibis. 

Body.— Two or three turns of light blue seal's 
fur and black seals fur. 

Ribs.— Silver tinsel. 

Hackly. — Xatural black, along the back 
seal's I'nr. 

Throat.— A very light plum-claret hackle. 

Wings. — Double tipi)ets, veiled with teal, 
light-mottled turkey, golden ])heasant tail, 
unbarred summer duck, peacock herl, and 
mallard, strands of ibis and parrot for small 
patterns; swan (dyed the same two colors), 
for large sizes. 

Horns. -^Blue macaw. 

Head. — Black herl. 

taite's fancy. 

Tag.— Silver twist and blue silk. 

Tail. — A topping and toucan. 

Butt.— Black herl. 

Body.— Silver tinsel (flat). 

Ribs. — Silver tinsel (oval). 

Hackle.— Claret, from the second turn of 

tinsel. 
Throat. — Blue hackle. 
Vi'iNGs.— Hen pheasant tail, peacock wing, 

swan (dyed very dark red orange), golden 

pheasant tail, and two strips of mallard 

above. 
Horns.— Blue macaw. 
Head.— Black herl. 

LION. 

Tag.— Silver twist and yellow silk. 

Tail.— A topping. 

Butt.— Black herl. 

Body. — Silver tinsel (flat), ribbed with silver 
tinsel (oval>, about one-fifth i)art being left 
at the shoulder for dark scarlet seal's fur, 
well picked out. 

Hackle.— Natural black. 

Throat.- Gallina. 

Wings.— Commcncins: with a few fibers of 
golden pheasant tippet, sword feather of 
the golden pheasant, and peacock herl, yel- 
low macawj red macaw, bustard, golden 
pheasant tail, teal, gallina, with two strips 
of mallard above, and a topping. 

Sides.— Jungle fowl. 

Horns.— Blue macaw. 

Head. -Black Berlin wool. 
SILVER DOCTOR. 

See page 477, and N, plate 2. 



492 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



FLY-FISHING CONTINUED. 

The Leader (b). — A few words in the heading "Gut" have 
already been said in regard to the leader or length of gut which 
interposes between the fly and the reel-line. It need only be 
added that its selection as to gauge should be dependent on 
the state of the water and the size of the fish expected to be 
taken. If the water be low and clear a fine leader is mani- 
festly necessary. If it is roily, and the fish run large, a 
thicker one is advisable. It should at least be as long as the rod. 
The Reel-line (c). — It is almost impossible to single out 
the best makes of line. My personal preference is for those 
made by Mr. E. J. Martin, of Rockville, Conn., and fof the 
Acme copper gimp-centered line of Foster Bros., Ashborne, 
Derbyshire, England. The latter is heavy without bulk, and 
is exceedingly easy to "lay out" on the surface of the water. 

The Reel (d) . — So many 
splendid reels are now on the 
market, that the task of se- 
lection is almost invidious. 
The diagrams show those I 
use myself. Fig. 33 is the Au- 
tomatic. This operates au- 
tomatically when a fish is 
hooked and it is desired to 
reel in. The whole opera- 
tion is performed by one 
hand. The little finger bears 
on the brake, and the reel be- 
gins to wind in; and the fish 
has a spring operating against 
him all the while. Fig. 34 

Fig- 33- 




FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



493 



is that patented by Mr. Chubb, of Post Mills, Vt. It is 
termed the "Henshall-van Antwerp," and for all-round fly 
fishing cannot be surpassed. Of course for Salmon a larger 
reel is necessary. 

The Fly-book (e). — This is a consideration of some 
importance, and the number of different patterns in existence 
proves that there are differences of opinion as to the best. 
The gut-snell of fly-books in this country is for some reason 
fixed at four and one-half inches, and the ingenuity of inven 




Fig. 34- 

lion has been exercised over the discovery of some device 
which shall retain the snell straight, before and after use. 
The most efficient, as faf as I have been able to examine — 
and I have seen all — is the Bray arrangement. The hooks 
are hung over a bar, and then brought down between 
the close helices of a spiral wire fixed crosswise in the 
book. The same idea appears in another device of later 



494 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

design, in that separate rings are crowded together on a rod 
confined at the ends. Both are good, but the "Bray" 
arrangement is best. 

The fly-book of the future will not be arbitrarily arranged 
for the four-and-one-lialf-inch snell, for the reason that the 
snell of the future will probably be as long as possible with- 
out a knot. When the fish of this country become educated 
to the height of culture exhibited by their European cousins, 
the farther the loop of the snell is from the hook the better. 
There is an inevitably bad feature of all the fly-books, as at 
present made, also in that they crush the fly, and if it should 
be of the "roofed" or flat- winged species it is entirely put out of 
shape every time. I am getting up a book which isn't a 
book, for it is made of tin or zinc. The flies extend beyond 
the top in a kind of wooden case, and each one can 
be drawn out without disturbing its fellow. There is nothing 
so attractive to a shy fish as a brand-new fly, floating with dry 
buoyancy along the crystal stream, with the sunbeams filter- 
ing through its lace-like wings, and glinting on its gay- 
colored body and opalescent hackle. 

I am also perfecting a fly-fisher's hat, the description of 
which may thus be shadowed forth: A hat having a belt- 
attachment instead of band encircling it, with books, etc., for 
the attachment of flies and leaders. Under the helmet- 
shaped peak, fore and after, are pockets for spare leaders, 
etc., and on each side an attachment for spare flies. If the 
angler wants to go to church in this hat he can do so, after 
removing the attachments, leaving it a respectable-looking 
chapeau enough — anyhow, good enough for a truth-pervert- 
ing angler. 

[For "Rods and Rod-making," see chapter under that head- 
ing] 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



49 S 




Fig. 35- 



496 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



SECTION 6 TACKLE FOR MID-WATER FISHING. 

Tackle for Trolling. — Artificial Bait. — The etymol- 
ogy of the word "trolling" need not concern us very much 
here, beyond pausing to say that it is evidently derived from 
the French trolcr, to lead about. Trolling may be defined 
in this connection as fishing in mid-water with lure, natural 





Fig. 36. Fig. 37. 

or artificial, using a running line in doing so, and so manip- 
ulating the bait as to keep it constantly trolling or moving 
about. Fish of prey, such as Salmon, Trout, Bass, and the 
Esocidge, are thus killed by the angler. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



497 



I shall first refer to artificial baits. The spoon is without 
question the chief of those, and in its thousand-and-one mod- 
ifications is invariably a successful lure. It would be invidi- 
ous to single out special makes as being superlatively supe- 
rior. Competition looks after the quality, and reliable tackle- 
sellers keep good goods. "Cheap," in refer- 
ence to spoons, infallibly means "u€.sty." 

Fig. 35 represents the orthodox spoon-bait. 
The attractiveness of this is enhanced by 
adding tufts of gaudy feathers, and there- 
fore American ingenuity has improved on the 
original plain spoon of Britain, and we find 
a combination spoon, as shown at fig. 36, 
is preferred by trollers for Mascalonge or 
Pikerel or (Pike). 

The difficulty with spoon-trolling is, that 
the hooks being necessarily so exposed, they 
catch into weeds and grass with annoy- 
ing frequency. This has been obviated by 
the device shown in fig. 37; i and 2 and 3 
are each arrangements for deflecting or 
throwing off the weeds, 3 being a flattened 
bar protecting the point. As it is of spring- 
steel, it fits, with a slight degree of tension, 
against the point; and the impact of soft 
weeds is not sufficiently strong to force it 
away from the guarded hook, whilst the 
spring is not strong enough to prevent the fish 
being hooked as the bait is seized. This 
arrangement must be seen to be apprecia- 
ted. It is patented by the Syracuse Fish- 



mm 
Pi ■^■ 

Fig. 38- 

Rod Co., N.Y. 

Another novelty, of an exceedingly effective form, is made 
by the same firm, and I give it place because I have person- 
ally proved its efficacy. It is shown at fig. 38. When the 



m 



498 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 




Fig. 39- 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 499 

flanges are spinning, they represent, from below, a bright and 
multi-moving fish. The dotted lines in the diagram show 
the outline. This is a genuine improvement. Of the dis- 
tinctly artificial, or rather "fancy" baits, the trolling-fly 
deservedly stands amongst the first. These are made of 
the ordinary material, as a general thing, andsome times 
a small spoon is placed above them, to their great improve- 
ment. But the ordinary fur-and feather fly is too frail for 
the teeth of fierce predaceous fish, coming at it with a tiger's 
dash, and the result is great destruction to one's tackle, in 
an ordinarily good day's fly-trolling. I make most of my 
trolling-flies so as to be practically indestructible. The 
body is of silk, covered over with transparent Tarpon 
scale-membrane, and the wings of the membrane also. 
This being, thickness-for-thickness, the toughest skin in the 
world, baffles even the destroying fangs of the Pickerel, and 
absolutely defies the horrent teeth of the Bass. Of course 
the material can be dyed any color deemed necessary. 

Artificial frogs, helgramites, and the various abominations 
termed "laminated" baits — that is, baits smeared with Bal- 
main's Luminous paint — need not here be recounted. I have 
undertaken only to tell of those baits I consider /;'t'.f/ — without 
fear or favor. 

Of course the novice can manufacture his spoons, if he 
can afford to buy a stamping apparatus. It is improbable 
that he can do so, however, and I think he would find a 
difficulty in getting the spoons separate from the gearing — at 
least in this country. He can, however, make the flat-metal 
baits, such as that figured in fig. 39. It is termed "James' 
trolling bait." A consists of tinned coper, or tin only, and 
at the head and tail are soldered two loops through which a 
long-shanked hook is passed. Two beads of solder are fixed 
on the shank (see fig. 39) to retain the hook, and a swivel is 
entered into the loop at the end of the shank. The whole 
bait is simplicity itself. 



500 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



Tackle for Trolling with the Natural Bait. — There 
is always, to my mind, satisfaction in using the dead natural 
bait — it requires a certain art in adjusting, and the lure is 
certainly more in keeping with what we know of the food of 
the quarry. To me, an air of ghastly unreality pervades 
the gyrations of the glittering spoon. The fish comes up, 
the victim of morbid suicidal mania, rather than of healthy 
gormandizing. It is caught by the "giddy pleasure of the eyes," 
rather than the promptings of a healthy appetite for food. 



The gangs in ordinary use for trolling the 
dead fish are wrong in principle, and are 
the same as have been used in the early 
days of British angling — I specially refer to 
the three triplet hooks and lip-hook. For 
these ten hooks I substitute four, and find 
them amply sufficient. Fig. 40 represents 
my device, and by practical experiment I 
find it superior to all others — though the 
"Pennell," and my "Nonpareil" run it close. 
[These are described later.] 

Fig. 40 may be thus described: A lip-hook 
is tied on to good fine gimp (A), and two 
loops of the same material are also tied in 
(BB). The loose end of the gimp is now 
turned back and passed through B B and 
a large single hook (Limerick) is whipped 
on to it (G) ; above this another is attached 
as shown (F). The barbed arrangement (E) 
must now be explained: It consists of two 
pieces of rather thick sheet-copper or brass, 
cut and filed into the shape shown. (If of 
brass it must not be hardened.) A loop is 
tied into the gimp at D, and the cross-piece 
E is placed therein as shown. An inch 




FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 5OI 






u 



iMg. 41. 



Fig. 42 



502 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 




Fig- 43. 



Fig. 44. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



503 



further up the Une another hook is tied (C), and the ap- 
paratus is complete. 

Fig. 41 shows the gang baited. The manner of accom- 




Fig. 45. Fig. 46. 

phshing this is as follows: kill the minnow, then insert the 
two long prongs into the fish at a point a little tailward of 
the dorsal fin, and push it as far as it will go toward the fork 



504 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

of the tail, along-side the backbone of the minnow. Now 
below the head of the fish insert the short barbed forks, and 
press them up to the cross-bar, withdrawing the long forks 
at the same time, of course. It is now baited as shown (fig. 
41), with the exception of the bend in the tail-end of the 
body. This is made to the extent required, according to the 
judgment of the angler. About the bend shown in the dia- 
gram is sufficient, ordinarily, to make the fish revolve with 
celerity, and without much "wobbling." 

Fig. 42 shows the "Pennell" gang, and it is deservedly 
popular, in England; the only fault I find is that the triplet 
often fails to hook the fish. It is the fault of all triplets. 
One hook goes in quicker, and holds quite tight enough for 
me. Fig. 43 shows the gang baited. Fig. 44 shows the 
"Nonpareil" gang. The junction at A allows of the lip-hook 
being shortened or lengthened, according to the size of the 
bait. Fig. 45 shows the bait in situ. The sinker is placed 
in the mouth, and the lips are closed by means of the lip- 
hook. The back is turned and bent as shown, to produce 
the spin or "wobble" so necessary to attract the attention of 
the fish. 

Fig. 46 indicates the ordinary trolling-gang. and it is not 
to be entirely condemned, because it undoubtedly does catch 
fish. The lip-hook in this case is stayed in its place by means 
of a twist or two round the shank. The above tackle is 
sufficient for all practical purposes in trolling. 

Sometimes, when the grass is too thick to allow of a bait 
being drawn through the water without the hooks fouling, 
the dead gorge bait is used. In this country it is deservedly 
reprobated, except under the circumstances I have named; 
and in the British Islands it is equally decried, during late 
years, though books have been written about it, in the "long 
ago," as witness Nobbe's" Art of Trolling." The ordinary form 
of the hook is shown at fig. 47. A is a pear-shaped body of 
lead, and the hook is passed, by means of a baiting-needle. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



505 



in at the mouth and out at the tail, the double hooks lying 
by the side of the bait's head, just under the eyes. This bait 
is not drawn through the water, as the spoon or dead gang- 
bait is drawn; but, after casting, it is manipulated with a 
sink-and-draw motion, and when the angler has a "strike," 
he lowers the point of the rod, and gives live minutes or so 
for pouching or "gorging." He then reels in — does not strike 
— and the hooks penetrate the gullet of the fish. 




Fig. 47. 

An improvement on this hook is shown at fig. 48. The 
body of the affair is made of linked leads or sinkers, and the 
hook itself is adjustable, so that no matter what size the bait 
is, the angler has only to add to or take away from the leads. 




Fig. 48. 

and alter the size of the hook, to suit the bait. With fig. 47 
this is impossible. A fresh hook must be substituted each 
and every time. 

Tackle for Live-minnow Fishing. — The ordinary single 
hook, hooked through the lip or under the back fin, generally 
suffices the rough-and-ready angler. But the observant 
angler notices that only a comparatively small percentage of 
fish are hooked when they are "coming short" — or not biting 



5o6 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



with avidity. To avoid this, I commonly adjust a large sin- 
gle hook or triplet, as in fig. 49, below the single hook; or, 
as in fig. 50, a rubber band is tied so that it keeps the hooks 




Fig. 49. 

in situ, thus causing no inconvenience to the bait except that 
of having a hook through the gristly cartilage of the nose — 
which I do not think the bait objects to very much. 

Fig. 51 shows a more brutal "gorge" live bait. It \s deadly 




Fig. 50- 

because the fish is allowed to gorge it before the angler 
strikes on him. That is all the recommendation I can give 
it. 

In fig. 52 we have the best arrangement for live-bait fish- 
ing, where large Pickerel, Pike, or Mascalonge are expected. 




Fig. 51- 

The hook near the gills is lightly hooked under the pectoral 
fin, and that on the back penetrates the cartilage of the dor- 
sal — cruel to the bait, but deadly. With it Mr. Alfred Jardine, 
of London, England, took the two largest Pike ever taken 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



507 



with a hook and hne. They weighed seventy-two and-one- 
half pounds the pair. 

Of all live-bait tackles, however, I prefer (individually) the 
"paternoster " (so-called from its succession of hooks, proba- 




Fig. 52. 
bly, like beads on a rosary). Fig. 53 shows it. The main line 
may be either gimp or gut, and the hooks are attached as 




Fig. 53- 
shown. At the lower extremity is a pear-shaped lead. This 
tackle is cast out gently, and as gently worked in toward 
the boat; and thus it searches the water within considerable 



5o8 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

radius. Sometimes a couple, or even three, Bass are on 
the hooks at one time, and then, look out for fun! 

Here endeth mid-water fishing, so far as the actual hook- 
tackle is concerned. A few remarks on other parts of the 
outfit may be in order, and they need be only very few. 

First, as to the leaders, or "traces," as they are termed, 
"over the water": In order to avoid "kinking," it is necessary 
that to all trolling baits swivels should be used. I prefer at 
least three — one at each end — and if a sinker is needed, one 
just before it on the line. The traces are best of stout gut, 
or fine gimp, or twisted gut. The latter make elegant and 
very strong lines. 

I mentioned the sinker, just now. Of course, in the case 
of fig. 44, no sinker is needed on the line to sink the bait, 
but one is to be preferred with all the others. This sinker 
should be heavy or light, according to the depth of the water, 
or the rapidity of the stream if there is a current. If possible 
it should be adjustable, and it should always lie under — not 




oil — the line. Fig. 54 shows an adjustable sinker of the 
shape I prefer. It is rendered adjustable by means of the 
spiral terminations into which is forced a piece of soft India- 
rubber cord. As can be seen, it is possible to alter the posi- 
tion to far or near the bait, at will, and if this be used as 
well as three swivels, there need never be any "kinking." 

The reel should be of either of the good makes. Do not 
purchase a cheap imitation of a good make; and let the one 
you get be large enough to hold at least 300 feet of line. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



509 



SECTION 7 BOTTOM-WATER AND BAIT FISHING. 

Very little so-called "bottom-fishing" is practiced in this 
country, but it seems likely that the Bull-head, Sucker, Eel, 
and several other useful fishes, might be more readily made 
to render sport, if a little more attention were paid to their 
methods of capture. 

Take for example the Bull-head: There is a right and a 
wrong way of putting on the worm for this fish. It should 
be threaded right up the center, though I am aware that 




Fig. 55- 
when they are freely biting it matters little how the bait is 
affixed. For bait-fishing for Trout, the best tackle is that 
shown at fig. 55, and the way to adjust the wriggling worm 
is as shown in fig. 56. 

Ordinarily, the best sinker is a round shot; but in the case 




Fig. 56. 
of fishing in a swift stream, the leaden sinker shown at fig. 57 
is far superior. When a fish bites it draws the line in the 
direction of the arrow, and the fisherman at the opposing end 



5IO AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

feels it instantly, and strikes. Sucker-fishing with the suc- 
culent worm and fine tackle is far from ignoble sport, at the 
proper season of the year. 

Bottom-fishing is much practiced in Europe, where fish 
of the ground-feeding kind are more frequently met with 
than is the case here. Still, there are times when the sta- 




Fig. 57- 
tionary sunk worm will take Bass, and nothing else will — 
this is also the case with the Trout (S. Salvelinus). 

The newly acclimatized Carp may be caught by still- 
bottom-fishing, but a previous ground-baiting is necessary. 
The bait — either a paste of cheese, or worm, should be 
allowed to rest on the ground, and the wily fish will then, if 
the tackle be fine, avail themselves of it. They are "kittle- 
cattle," however, to capture. 

I have thus briefly and succinctly sketched the lesser 
tackling of the angler, and the methods of making. The 
matter of rods is a very serious one, and demands a sepa- 
rate chapter, which is accorded it. The two subjects 
are separated for the convenience of the reader, rather 
than because they are necessarily of distinct nature. Any 
and all anglers can learn to make their flies, leaders, etc., 
but to make rods requires closer attention, and is really a 
trade in itself. 



THE FISHING-ROD, AND ITS AMATEUR MANUFACTURE. 



The origin of the fishing-rod is lost in the mists of 
antiquity — and it is of not much consequence. It may be 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 5 I I 

interesting, however, to briefly note the difference between 
the "angle" described in the first "Treatyse of Fysshynge," 
and the wand-Hke rod so ineffably graceful and beautifully 
made, now to be seen on every hand. The fish in this 
country in the great majority are about the same in education 
as they were four hundred years ago, when the "Treatysse" was 
printed; but how changed the tackle! Listen to the following: 

"Ye shall kytte, between wyghelmas and candlymas, a fayr 
staffe of a fadom and a-halfe long, and arme grete (thick as 
one's arm), of hazyll wylowe, or ashe (this is for the butt). 

vr * * "In the same season take a fayr yards of grene 
hazle (this is for the second joint); * * * Take a fayr 
shote of black thorn crab-tree, medeler, or of jenypie (this is 
for the tip). Then shave your staffe and make hym tapre 
wexe (wax taper)." "Hopes of yren" — hoops of iron — are to 
bind it for strength in place of the modern ferrule (vyrell) 
and there is no doubt the entire apparatus must have weighed 
several pounds. My split-cane Spalding, with which I have 
killed tons of fish during the past five years, weighs just 
seven ounces, fittings and all complete. 

The present beautiful weapon is the evolved production of 
four centuries, and the survival of the fittest, unquestionably. 
The different types of rods may be here briefly enumerated: 

(i) Rods for Top- water Fishing. — These are the finest 
productions of the rod-maker's art, as befits the use to which 
they are put, and are of several different classes of material. 
In my mind the best kind is that manufactured from the outer 
skin or enamel of the ordinary bamboo cane. This material 
is found to be tougher and lighter than any other wood as 
yet discovered, and it is detached from the cane in such a 
way as to admit of the greatest amount in the smallest com- 
pass when the rod is made. The process will be explained 
hereafter. It is sufficient here to say that the shape of the 
finished rod is commonly six-sided, it being contended that 
this shape admits of the most enamel to the least amount of 



512 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



inside wood — which is of practically no elasticity. The 
weapon, from butt to tip, is composed of strips cut from the 
large butts of the bamboo-cane. These are glued together, 
and whipped with silk at intervals, and are of course tapered 
perfectly to allow of the maximum of strength, lightness and 
resiliency. 

The Trout-fly Rod is used usually in the 
single hand — that is, two hands are not taken 
to it for its manipulation. The reason for this 
probably is the fact that the rivers in which 
the Brook-trout is found are for the most 
part really brooks as to size, and the larger, 
heavier and longer fly-rod is not necessary 
to command the water. Hence the Trout-fly 
rod in ordinary use in America is seldom 
more than eleven feet long, and from three 
and one-fourth to ten ounces in weight. 
The three and one-fourth rod is admirably 
adapted for ladies, and the ten-ounce rod for 
gentlemen who prefer a heavy weapon, because 
of some inherited fancy; but I personally pre- 
fer a seven-ounce as the happy medium. One 
should be able to wield such a rod for weeks 
without undue fatigue: I have certainly done so. 
It is difficult, if not impossible, to convey an 
accurate idea on paper, either by diagram or 
description, of the appearance of such a rod. 
Fig. I will give an idea of the proportion pre- 
served, and the following are the measurements: 
length of each joint, three and one-half feet; 
I diameter of handle, one inch; diameter just 
i A above swell of handle, six-sixteenths; diameter 

Fig. I. at point just below first ferrule, five-sixteenths; 
above first ferrule, five sixteenths; below second ferrule, 
three-sixteenths; above second ferrule, three-sixteenths; end 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



513 



of tip below terminal ring, three thirty-seconds of an inch. 
Fig. 2 shows a section of the wood from which the rod is 
made, and the method of cutting it out. The dotted lines 
represent the shape of the strips when they are planed down 
to the proper angle for greatest strength. 





Fig. 2. 

The apparent fragility of this rod does not indicate its 
actual strength. I have, during five seasons, used mine on both 
Bass and Trout, and the largest Bass was six pounds. It is 
to-day as straight and strong as when I got it from the maker. 
There is nothing to be said against the solid-wood rod — if 
properly made. Several kinds of wood are in popular use, 
and the favorites, both in this country and England, are 
greenheart, blue mahoe, lance-wood and hickory. Occasion- 
ally one meets with ash, but it is seldom used, except for 
butts. Lance-wood and greenheart (bethabara I hold to be 
a species of greenheart, and very unreliable at that) — are the 
chief of these four, and may be said to be preferable above 
all the solid woods used in rod-making so far. 

The split-cane Salmon-rod is but an enlarged edition 
of the split-cane Trout fly-rod. I have seen a very good 
specimen of the kind of rod used on the Restigouche. The 
specification of this rod was furnished to Mr. Chubb (Rod- 
maker, Port Mills, Vermont) by Dr. Baxter, weighs from 
twenty-five to twenty-eight ounces, and is composed of eight 
strips, therefore being octagonal. It is four-jointed, sixteen 



514 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



feet in length, and of course is very powerful and satis- 
factory. 

For my own part I prefer a double-action, solid-wood 
greenheart rod, for Salmon, built on the "Castle-Connell'^ 

principle. Doubtless a little fur- 
ther explanation will be accept- 
able to the amateur. By double- 
action is meant a rod with rather 
exaggerated resiliency, insomuch 
that its tip, when striking a fish, 
first goes forward and tJicn back- 
ward — i.e., its action is double. 
The "Castle-Connell" rods are 
also without ferrules, the joints 
being put together by splicing (see 
fig. 3); hence a most important 
feature, elasticity, is preserved 
along the entire length of the rod, 
and not interfered with by the 
unyielding ferrule. There is also 
in this rod considerable play in 
the butt-joint, which is not the 
case with the ordinary make. I 
have just received one from "Joe" 
Dalzel), of St. Johns, N. B.— the 
best Salmon-rod maker I know of, 
and with it a few of "Joe's" senti- 
ments on spliced rods. He 
says — and I fully concur: "I 
think there is no rod like a 
spliced rod. Of course I have to make ferruled rods, but I 
'cuss' when I come to put a strain on them, to see two stiff 
parts in the rod (the ferrules). In making my rods I glue 
them up the full length — sixteen feet, or whatever it may be 
— and then work all down together, so I am sure that every 




•^^ 



Fig. 3- 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT, 



515 



^! 



part of my rod works in unison. Rods that are made to 
gauge in separate pieces are not near so good, as you will 
find some parts of them more dense in grain, and other parts 
more open. By working all together you can make them 
act in unison — that is, each part of the rod does 
its share of the work. I think you will find 
every part of my rods does its share of the work. 
/ inake it work from handle to tip. Most rods 
are made with stiff butt. This is good enough for 
its purpose — giving length. In a rod of that 
kind the fish is killed on the weakest part; in 
my rod you kill him on the strongest. Also, 
in casting a line — if you get impetus from the 
resilient butt . you can cast with less exertion, 
and a smaller rod of this kind will do .the work 
of a much larger one of the ordinary build." 

Rods for Mid-water Fishing, such as troll- 
ing, fishing with live bait, etc., need to be of 
rather sterner character. For Bass-fishing, Dr. 
Henshall recommended an eight-foot three-inch 
rod of eight ounces, made of ash-butt; lance- 
wood tip and second joint. For my own part I 
prefer one rather longer, but this is a matter of 
choice. The ten-foot two-joint rod (Chubb's) 
fig. 4, with reversible hand-grip, is to me a 
splendidly efficient weapon. By the way, this 
hand-grip is a good idea. It allows of the reel 
being below or above the hand, and one can 
cast from the reel or not, according to choice. 
Of course the short, strongly built Tarpon and 



Fig. 4. 
to the above 



Mascalonge rods are "horses of a different color" 



I have one made of greenheart from an old 
ship's knees or ribs, which weighs 28 ounces, and is but 
twelve feet long — but oh! the strength! It is capable of 
helping a man out of the water without straining, and is fine- 



5l6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

ly trimmed, and in everything good for its purpose — catch- 
ing big fish and killing them quietly; and if one needs a boat- 
pole, on an emergency, he has just the implement handy. 

Not only has the vegetable kingdom been laid under contri- 
bution for material in the manufacture of rods, but also 
the mineral. Naturally, steel has come in for a share of at- 
tention. Forty years ago old Giles Little, of Fetter Lane, 
London — an enthusiastic fisherman and tackle-maker — 
made a steel rod. It was simply a tapered steel-spring, 
with a swelled butt or handle, and was light and exceedingly 
powerful. I saw it and handled it, in 1879, and thought 
then that the time was not far distant when a really efficient 
jointed-rod of steel would be introduced to anglers. 

The thought is realized in the steel rod produced by the 
Horton Steel-rod Co., and I have had the advantage and 
pleasure of testing one of these rods with great severity. 
First, I may premise that the ten-foot fly-rods will lift a 
dead weight of ten pounds — there is no wood-rod fit for fly- 
fishing that will do that — and in practical fishing they are 
unbreakable, and as far as I have gone they don't rust. 
They are made from fine sheet-steel, in tubes, not bra2ed 
but brought round together without actual juncture. Some of 
these rods are telescopic, and act very satisfactorily, if a 
fine line be used; but a thick line is apt to cling to the large 
surface of contact, because it runs through the interior of 
the rod. These rods are, however, now made with guides out- 
side, and the improvement makes an extremely useful rod 
for rough usage — camping, etc. The temper of the steel is ex- 
cellent, as it of course must be to be of any use. 

Other rods of whalebone — which trenches on the ani- 
mal kingdom for material — ^made like a whip with braiding, 
have been tried, and I myself once endeavored — and shall 
do so again — to produce a rod of steel and vulcanite; but 
the split cane, as yet, is triumphant over all its competitors. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



517 



There are some pretty rods made, both in England 
and this country, with metal centers. The "Foster" rod is 
steel-centered, and the "Hardy" rod (both English) is not 
only steel-centered but "built up," as it is termed, 
of bamboo. Fig. 5 shows the "Foster," with its 
guides on both sides and its reel at the end; and 
fig. 6 indicates the process of "building up" 
practiced by Hardy Bros. 

Another capitally made rod is the built-up rod 
of Edwards (Hancock, Del. Co., N. Y.). It is 
substantially similar to that of Hardy, except that 
it does not contain the steel core. For my own 
part I don't want the steel core. This maker says: 
"I have, for about ten years, made the single 
enamel, split-bamboo rods. During this time I have 
used nearly all kinds of ferrules to prevent their 
breaking off at the ferrules. Finding this was a 
failure, generally, as the bamboo was strong only on 
the outside — the inside being at the best very 
poor — the idea occurred to me to plane away as 
much of the inside as was poor, and glue 
another piece of enamel in its place, thereby 
making the whole rod out of enamel. It takes 
forty-eight pieces or strips to make a rod with two 

tips." 

A brief glance at the most desirable trimmings 

rings or guides, ferrules, reel-plates, etc., is 

now in order. They have gone through as many 
vicissitudes as the rods, and are now so improved 
as to be practically perfect. There are, how- 
ever, many old-fashioned arrangements on the 
market, and I make the following remarks to in- 
form the reader of the best out of these. Nothing 
is so objectionable as a good rod with bad trim- 
jj-jin<^s— it is like a beautiful woman in tinsel 

Fie. ■;. ^ 



5i: 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



and tawdry finery instead of real jewels and good dress. 

First, as to guides or rings: these have to receive and allow 

the line to pass through them, and the minimum of friction 





Fig. 6. — Before pementing. Fig. 6. — After cementing. 

is a desideratum. There also should be no possibility of en- 
tanglement. This being so, I can find no better ring than that 




Fig. 7- 
shown in fig. 7. It can of course be made in all sizes ; it is sim- 
ple and lasting. 

For a butt-ring on the Bass casting rod, I know of no better 
one than that shown at fig. 8. It allows the line to pass 




through without confining it unduly, which is most necessary 
for long casting. The simplicity of this arrangement is 
obvious. It simply consists of two loops of wire tied on in 
juxtaposition as shown, and touched with hard solder at 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 5 19 

their points of meeting. It is a device of my own, and 
exceedingly practicable. Of course it can be varied as to 
size. etc. 

The ordinary rings for fly-rods are shown in fig. 9. They 
consist simply of a round metal ring held on the rod by the 
tie, which is whipped with silk. This is a useful ring for 



O 



Fig. 9. 

fly-fishing only, and even then not wholly satisfactory, 
because of the severe friction on the line. Nothing is so 
discordant to the finished angler as friction in 
regard to any part of his gear. It sets his teeth 
on edge. Hence the folding rings (fig. 9) "must 
go." 

Tip-rings are extremely various in make. One 
of the best is that shown at fig. 10. It simply 
consists of a hard ring — agate, preferably — set 
between two uprights so that it will be freely 
movable according to the angle assumed by 
the line. Of course the size is regulated to suit 
P^r"io. the rod, though a comparatively large ring is 
undeniably to be preferred over small ones. Fig. 1 1 also 
shows a ring, not on the market, but the like of which I 
made fifteen years ago. It consists of a ball and socket 
joint. As will be perceived, it will move in any direc- 
tion, but needs to be exceedingly well made to stand 
wear and tear. Fig. 12 shows the solid agate tip ring; 
and its neat and effective appearance needs no commen- 
dation. If one can afford to put a jeweled tip to his rod, 
the saving in the wear and tear of the line amply compen- 
sates him. For myself I am content with the ring shown in 
fig. 13. It is simply a bended wire, but so far as its effi- 
ciency is concerned, is quite equal to more elaborate contriv- 




520 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



ances. Perhaps the best rings of the whole number are figs. 
12 and 13 — only do not hesitate to have them large. 

Ferrules form an important part of the ordinary rod, and 





Fig. II. Fig. i2. Fig. 13. 

require some careful consideration. 

It has been pretty generally thought that the shape of the 
male ferrule should be as shown in fig. 14 — that is, provided 
with a dowel (A). This was supposed to render the joint more 
secure, and probably to render it more pliant and elastic. 



Fig. 14- 
It certainly does not allow a joint to be secure, unless the 
latter is tied in, for the wedge-shape of the dowel is precisely 
the shape of all others most likely to loosen the joint in the 
act of casting, etc. In the most approved rods of the pres- 
ent day this dowel is, however, omitted, and thus we witness 
another return to first principles — for my father bought and 
made rods after this style at least twenty-five years ago, to 
my certain knowledge, and he always preferred the undow- 
eled ferrule. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



521 



This ferrule is shown in fig. 15, and i and 2 in the diagram 
represent the points of contact between the male and female 
ferrule. Both at i and 2, plates of metal should be soldered, 
that the entire arrangement may be water-proof. 



n 



Fig. 15. 

Most English rods, of this day, not only possess the dowel, 
but are so ill-fitted that the bayonet-fastening, screw, or loops 
of wire, at each end of ferrule, are necessary to keep the rod 
from throwing asunder. This is simply a confession of bad 
workmanship — there is no reason for it in the climate, as I 
have heard it plausibly suggested. The fact is, the ferrules 
are not "trued" one to the other, and they are not of the 
right material. Most of them are of brass, and very few are 
of german silver. This latter metal is the best for a ferrule 
intended to hold together by its own cohesion. 

Of course the metal must be flawless and hardened — the 
tubing should be drawn inside and out — that is through an 
annular die, upon a highly smooth mandrel, and I prefer 
grinding the two parts together with very fine emery and oil 
and afterward rotten stone and oil, until the surfaces are 
absolutely smooth — so smooth in fact as to require quite a 
little force to put them into place. After these ferrules 
have been together a few minutes, and the condensed 
air has gradually found its way out, it is almost impossible 
to pull them asunder quickly, owing to the vacuum exist- 
ing and the pressure of the atmosphere outside — in fact, 
in the ferrule made as I suggest, they form an actual pneu- 
matic tube similar to that of the air-pump. 



52: 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



The weakest part of the rod has hitherto been at the 
junction of the ferrule and the wood — in a word, at 3, 
fig. 15. Ferrules made as fig. 15 represents at 3, "3", 
are destructive. They are not fit for a fine 
elaborate rod, because, as no chain is stronger 
than its weakest link, so this weak spot is a blemish 
as bad as a spavin on a pacer. The rod is certain 
to give way at that point before it does anywhere 
else, and there is no help for it as long as the fer- 
rule is of the shape shown. 

All great discoveries are simple, and that shown 
at fig. 16 is at once simple and great; it is the 
ideal ferrule, and if I know it I will never purchase 
a rod without it. Unfortunately it is patented — 
though I presume the amateur will not find difficulty 
in getting permission to use it — and therefore only 
the best makers are licensed to use it. Precisely 
how this matter stands, I do not know. 

It will be seen that the serrated edges do not 
bear on the wood at all to its detriment, but rather 
as a support; and at the same time they take off 
the strain which, were they not there, would 
come on the solid part of the ferrule just above 
them. The device is a perfect adaptation of the 
means to the end. 

The ordinary reel-seat is confessedly inconveni- 
ent. It is shown at fig. 17 as now made, 
Fig. 16. and it must be admitted that when the material is 
german silver it presents a handsome appearance. But 
it does not allow of various sized reel-plates being fastened, 
and herein lies the disadvantage. Notwithstanding the 
standard of sizes once adopted by the National Rod and Reel 
Association, few makers make to it; and the result is that 
only one or two reels that you meet in a life-time fit the 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT 



5^3 



reel-seat. Then again the band is forever working up, 
unless it fits very tight; and who amongst my experi- 
enced readers has not met with that awful catastrophe — 
a disengaged reel, just loosened at the period of greatest 
agony and excitement, when the fish is 
doing his best to run all the line out? 
Even now I could groan at the loss of one 
mighty Salnio at least, through this very 
cause. 

American ingenuity, however, comes to 
the rescue again (fig. i8). The upper and 
lower receptacle for the plate-ends are 
tapered — hence they can take from the least 
to the largest, and the upper band is mov- 
able. It is shown at A. Moreover, behind 
it is placed an ingenious clutch — which is 
shown out of gear in A, and in situ in the 
larger diagram (fig. i8). I have seen it on 
Trout, Bass and Salmon rods, and it works 
like a charm. 

HOW TO MAKE A ROD. 

In the following directions for the making 
of rods I shall purposely place myself in the 
position of a novice who has never made a 
rod, but has ingenuity and some mechanical 
aptitude. Machinery is rapidly taking the 
place of manual labor, and the various 
Fi". 17. parts of most of the rods we see are made 

by that method. There is, however, great pleasure if not 
profit in the construction of the weapon with which you in- 
tend to slay the coming summer's monarch of the brook; 
and it will be all the more valued if its manufacture is 
completely your own — ^that is, as far as may be, for I do 



524 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 





Fig. 1 8. 



not think it advisable to describe the 
detail of ferrule and reel-plate making, 
when they can be bought so much easier 
than made. They can be obtained of 
any of the tackle-makers. 

Perhaps the best rod for the novice 
to begin on will be a three-jointed, 
ten-foot lance-wood fly-rod. The diffe- 
rence between the make-up of a fine rod 
and one of inferior build, is great in ef- 
fect as regards actual wear and tear, 
but in the manufacture there is little ap- 
preciable difference, on the principle 
that it is always nearly as easy to do 
good work as it is bad, and to make 
a fine fly-rod as one approximating to 
the so-called "pole" of our ancestors. 
As the tyro and myself intend to make 
the rod together, and as I imagine 
him to know absolutely nothing about 
rod-making, a word or two about tools 
are necessary: 

These are neither elaborate nor ex- 
pensive. First, it is desirable to have 
a good stout bench or table to work 
upon. It should also stand in a good 
light, and be of a height commensurate 
with that of the operator, so that he 
may incur as little fatigue as possible. 
A tired man at any task is seldom a 
minutely particular man, and it must 
be understood once and for all that 
eternal vigilance is the price of good 
rod-making. A vise is desirable also, 
but not absolutely necessary. One 
can generally resort to a neighboring 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



525 



carpenter's shop for any vise-work he has to do. 

First of all you should get three or four — three at least, 

good planes. I prefer the Bailey iron planes — and so does 

every rod-maker of my acquaintance — and the sizes are those 

marked in the catalogue of the 
Stanley Rule and Level Co. as 
No. I, 6-inch; No. 5, 14-inch; and 
No. 50, 3 I -2-inch — the three 
costing in all about seven dollars. 
These are by far the easiest for 
the novice to manipulate and keep 
sharp. 

Files of several degrees of cut, 
and wood-rasps, sand-paper, bro- 
ken glass, and some pieces of an 
old saw-blade, make up the really 
indespensable tools. The ma- 
terial — lance-wood — can be pro- 
cured of Chubb, and he is very 
particular in picking out good 
pieces. 

The first thing to do, when one 

has decided to build anything — 

from a hog-pen to a railway bridge 

— is to get out a working plan of 

the task to be done. My own 

usage always has been to take a 

piece of sheet-brass or copper, and 

true the upper edge of it square. 

I then begin to think out the 

Suppose we say ten feet long over 

all. The handle is to be ten inches, which, deducted from 

122 inches (ten feet) leaves 1 12 of rod now to be made. 

How thick through should it be.' Say, at the butt- 




Fig. 19. 
dimensions of the rod. 



526 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



end, where it goes into the handle, half an inch, and at 
the extreme end of the tip we will render it one-eighth 
cf an inch (see fig. 19). How long shall each of the joints 
be.' The first or butt, may be forty inches; the two others 

thirty-six each. 

I 1 

These dimensions being deter- 
mined upon, I draw a perpen- 
dicular line down the brass or 
copper plate, with a sharp point 
of some kind, of almost any 
length. In the diagram it is 
four inches long. This repre- 
sents 112 inches — the length of 
the rod. Now, across the upper 
iend a line is drawn precisely equal 
to the diameter of the butt-end 
of the rod — in this case half an 
inch (see fig. 19), and at the 
lower end I draw another precisely 
equal to the diameter of the 
extremity of the rod or tip — in 
this case one-eighth of an inch. 
Now two lines drawn from the left 
and right extremities of the upper 
jline to the left and right extremi- 
ties of the lower line, represent a 
plan of the taper of the rod. 
Now take the compasses and di- 
vide this four-inch perpendicular 
into eight equal portions, each rep- 
Fig. 20. 'resenting fourteen inches. Then 
draw straight lines right across at each intersection, and 
the length of each of these lines represents the actual thick- 
ness your rod should be at each section. Thus fourteen 
inches from the largest end the rod is to be seven-six- 




FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 527 

teenths of an inch; at twenty-eight inches six-sixteenths, 
and so on till, at the extremity, it is but two-sixteenths or 
one-eighth of an inch in diameter. 

Having marked the plate precisely as shown in the dia- 
gram (fig. 19), and that very legibly, go to the next tin-smith 
and have him cut out the piece of marked diagram from 
the plate, reducing it to the appearance shown at fig. 20. 
You have in this simple device, a gauge of your rod from 
butt to point, and one of the chief difficulties is over. As you 
taper the wood under your hands you can bring it to gauge 
by passing it into the slit to its proper number. Thus at 
seventy inches in length it should be one-fourth-inch in 
diameter, and so on to the end. 

The wood will come to us in square strips. Bore two 
holes right through the butt-end of each strip, so that 
when planing, the end can be slipped onto a pin driven into 



OB 



iniiiiMiiiiiiiiiiMMiiiiiiininii-mnTT 



Fig. 21. 

the table or bench (see fig. 21. A, pin; B B, holes). 
You can then plane from you, and will find it much better 
than if the upper end were fixed against a stay. In the lat- 
ter case the wood (especially lance-wood) is apt to bend and 
.get out of line owing to the pressure exerted upon it in push- 
ing the plane. 

First, plane one side perfectly smooth, then plane the 
opposite side; next take a right and then a left side, and so 
plane that a true square is preserved, no matter what taper 
is arrived at. You want a tapered square for the first joint 
that at the butt will just go in the gauge at the half-inch 
mark, and at the other end will fit just short of the forty-two- 



52i 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



inch notch. Having planed until you have got these meas- 
urements, you are ready for the next operation. {Par par- 
cnthcse, each joint should be long enough to allow for the 
cutting off of the bored end.) 

The next process is to convert the square into an octagon. 

To do this you need a length of wood groved out to the 



extent of a right-angle (see fig. 22) in which to lay the joint. 
It may be of one piece, or two pieces, glued together, the 
latter is easiest to make. Before placing the square joint, 
however, it is well to take up the ends and mark with pencil 
a true octagon, and cut with a sharp knife carefully to the 




Fig. 23. 

marks (see fig. 23). Then plane away, as before. Of 
course a constant constricting of the gauge is necessary in 
this as in the preceding process, so that none of the sides 
are untrue. The next process is, with the small plane to 
shave off the corners of the octagon, and further lightly 
shave until a round joint is approximated to. This rounding 
process can be continued with scraper, glass and fine sand- 
paper, till it is true and exactly to measurement. 

I mentioned the pieces of old saw-steel in my enumeration 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



529 



of tools. Here is just where their usefulness comes in. Fig. 
24 represents a piece filed into semicircular hollows, with 
their edges made sharp. With this convenient tool you will find 
the process of obtaining a truly round joint greatly facilitated. 
Now test your material. Bend it with considerable force in 
different directions. If it resumes the original shape without 
any set, you are a very fortunate individual in possessing a 
piece of superlative lance -wood. If it '"'•sets''' badly, Jiang it 
up in a dry room for the next three months; it is not suffi- 
ciently seasoned. 




Fig. 2\. 

Now go to work and roundup your other joints in precisely 
the same manner. The next operation is to fit the ferrules. 
The ferrules I recommend are those without dowelpins, and 
the female ferrule should be fitted on the wood with care, using 
the file and scraper for the purpose. Be very careful to 
evenly cut away the wood, so that they go on perfectly 
straight. Be also careful not! to push the joint too far in 
the ferrule, but just enough to hold the male securely. Fig. 
16 shows about the right proportion. It is well to give the 
wood plenty of room in the ferrules, which room or space is 
to be filled up with whipping and cement. This is to provide 
for the possible swelling of the wood. I have seen the male 
ferrule split and enlarged so that the rod could not be jointed 
together, owing to the tightness of the fit and the accidental 
immersion of the joint. 

I have tried various cements, but have narrowed down my 
preferences to two: one is the liquid solution of India rubber 
or gutta-percha (I don't know which), termed, in the hard- 
ware stores. Prof. Callan's Brazilian Gum. A solution of 



530 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

India rubber in ohloroform is good, if this cannot be had, or a 
sohition of the same material in bi-sulphide of carbon. These 
are of a family, and are about equal in merit — readily melted, if 
a break of the rod necessitates, and drying quickly when ap- 
plied. The other cement is the same that I, personally, use 
as a wax in fly-making. It is thus composed: one ounce clear 
light resin; one teaspoonful oil (boiled is best) ; one drachm 
gutta-percha (sheet). Melt all together, pour into water, 
and pull as you would pull candy. Le Page's glue is also good. 

Having prepared those parts of the joints destined to 
receive the ferrules so that there is a small but appreciable 
space left between the wood and metal, wind the wood with 
silk rubbed well with the cement. You will have already 
decided how far the ferrule is to go on the wood, and have 
wound the silk to that point. Now push on the ferrule, 
leaning the end against a firm wall or door-post. Do not of 
course use a mallet, but when you have got the ferrule on as 
far as you can get it by main force, light your spirit lamp 
and heat the ferrule or hold it over the hot stove-coals till 
the inner cement is softened, and the ferrule itself somewhat 
expanded. Then push the ferrule into place, and it is a 
hundred chances to one against its ever starting, even in the 
driest weather. If ever it does, the operation must be repea- 
ted, using a little thicker silk and more cement. 

Never under any circumstances drive a pin in to secure the 
ferrule — it is a source of weakness, and if you have to replace 
the ferrule it causes four-fold labor. 

You have now got your rod to position where you can test 
its**feel" — its hanging and balance. It is not finally round- 
ed off; and though you have "trued" it to a taper as far as you 
could, you have to correct crookedness and lack of balance — 
poise — in the hand. Joint it together and handle it. I go to 
the length of fitting on the handle (which I make separately, 
sometimes half-a-dozen at a time), and attaching reel and 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 53 I 

line, and casting with the rod to see the kind of implement I 
have. 

The changes to be made can scarcely be enumerated here, 
so much do they depend on the quality of the wood — the 
individual likes and dislikes of the user and his previous skill. 
A fly-rod should be stiff enough to have no droop in it — that 
is, for single-handed weapons. If it is unevenly elastic (and 
the best of lance-wood is that) it must be reduced, where it 
isstiffer, to adjust it to the strength of the most pliable part. 
Other points will occur to you as you go along, but be sure 
that your rod suits your hand. An ill-fitting rod is as bad as an 
ill-fitting gun, and both are abominations. If the joints crook 
at all, heat over a warm stove, and get the wood as you 
wish it, then tie to a perfectly straight steel rod for a time. 

Having, with iile, scraper and sand-paper, adjusted 
your rod, next pro(feed to smooth it with the finest sand- 
paper, using plenty of elbow-grease. A little finely powdered 
tufa (pumice) aids one to get a very smooth surface, and 
after this if each joint be rubbed briskly with a handful of 
good hard-wood shavings — those you have slivered off your 
rod, will do — the surface will be perfect for varnishing. 

The next thing, however — before varnishing — to be consid- 
ered, is the handle. Of course you can enlarge your lower 
joint if you choose, in the old-fashioned way; but I prefer the 
handle made of some nice-grained wood, such as sumach, or 
it may very commendably be a plain wood wrapped round at 
the grasp with flax-twine, well waxed, or covered, as one of 
mine is, with India rubber tubing — the hand never blisters, 
if this is used. These handles should be ten inches long 
over all, and the diameter should not be more than one inch 
at the largest "swell." The interior of the upper part should 
be bored to receive the butt-end of the largest joint of the 
rod. This requires whipping and cementing with the same 
care as bestowed on the ferrule-fixing, and any ornamental 
whipping or banding at the junction is permissible. 



532 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

Varnishing is now in order. I use coach-varnish, the best 
I can get; there is nothing better, and it is well to give it 
several coats, drying it each time in the air, in a bright sun- 
shine, if possible. It should be thinned with turpentine till 
it flows readily from the brush, and a very thin coat should 
be put on, repeating it several times. When four or five 
coats are dried on hard they can be rubbed down with pum- 
ice and water (pumice-blocks ready prepared for the work 
can be procured) washing off every now and then to see how 
the surface is progressing. When sufficient has been done, 
rotten stone and water follows, and finally, dry rotten stone. 
Then wash to clear it entirely, and dry quickly. Then rub 
the rod with a handful of the finest tissue paper, pretty vig- 
orously, changing the paper occasionally, and the result will 
be a brilliant polish. The same treatment applies to all 
kinds of rods if you desire a really handsome appearance. If 
that is a matter of no consequence an ordinary vanished sur- 
face will serve — indeed very few of even fine rods are pol- 
ished as above described. The materials for the ordinary 
varnishing process are procurable of Mr. J. C. Chubb, of Post 
Mills, Vermont. 

The making of a split-bamboo rod demands much higher 
skill and carefulness, but it is not so difficult as it appears, 
when one can readily and neatly finish a whole-wood one. 
It bears a relationship to simple rod-making similar to that 
borne by Salmon-fly making, as compared with ordinary 
Trout-fly manufacture. It is impossible for the absolute 
novice to make a Salmon-fly at first sight; and the same may 
be said of that fairy-wand, the modern split-bamboo fly-rod. 

The cane generally used is the Calcutta bamboo, with the 
brown mottling, and only the last five feet of any stick is 
useful. In selecting it be careful to look it over for worm- 
marks; reject all canes that have that ominous boring in it, 
and select only those that are perfectly sound and not burned 
deeply — for the mottling is undoubtedly due to burning. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 533 

The whole process of preparing the spht cane, by the large 
manufacturers, is effected by machinery; but in the present 
case we must be content to make the rod by hand, strictly; 
and the first thing is to split the bamboos for use. 

Now take a cane in your hand and look it over. You will 
find that on two sides the knots possess little pip-like pro- 
jections. On these sides the cane is useless for rod-making. 
You require, therefore, that part which lies between these 
two unusable parts. 

Some saw the cane. I prefer to use a knife, and for this 
purpose I have placed an old carving knife in a stout wooden 
handle. By the aid of a mallet I split the cane end-to- 
end, and with care this can be done with surprising ease and 
precision, even with such a rough implement. Having done 
this, take the portions which are of no use for rod-making 
and try the flexibility and resilience of the wood. This will 
give you an idea of the worth of the parts you reserve for 
use. 

Your split bamboo is now in yoiir hands in the form of a 
strip with a rectangular section, and the object you have in 
view is the reduction of si.x of them to tapering sections of 



▼ 



Fig. 25. 

exactly sixty degrees (fig. 25 — also fig. 2, showing amount to 
be planed off), the rind to remain outside and untouched, 
and the apex of the triangle to be directly opposite the 
middle of the outer rind. 

First pick out six strips for your butt, cut them off the 
length required (that is, an inch or two longer than the joint 
is to be), file the knots smooth, and endeavor to so select the 
strips that no two knots are near each other when the strips 
are glued in place. 

JSIow the form of the completed strip is that of an equilat- 
eral triangle — i.e., each side is equal. If therefore you 



534 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



decide that the butt-end of the first joint shall be one-half 
an inch in diameter, it is certain that you require six strips 
with three sides, one-fourth-inch each (see fig. 26). Your 
first operation therefore is to square your strips so that they 
are one-fourth-inch square. Remember, nothing must be 




Fig. 26. 

taken off the outer or rind side. 

Now take a piece of sheet-brass and cut out an angle- 
piece of sixty degrees (see fig 26), and mark out the plan of 
your rod. I have already begun to do this, at A and B. A 
indicates the point to which the largest strip must come at 
its larger end. B shows the point for its smaller end. 
Mark the size of the ends of each of the other joints plainly, 
and keep this plan for gauging the final results. For pre- 




Fig. 27. 

liminary results fig. 27 hints at a device that is most useful. 
This diagram is marked out for a four-joint rod, but the same 
principle is precisely applicable for the three-joint. A per- 
fect guide is presented, in figs. 26 and 27, to the sectional 
make of the split-cane rod. ' 

The planing of the strips to the exact pattern, so that each 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



535 



one 'tapers truly, will tax all the care and patience of the 
operator. Having squared his six strips, he must make a 
four-foot block of hard wood with grooves of the angle shown 
in fig. 28. This had better be made in sections as shown, 
and joined together. In this case they can be planed to the 
correct angle with the planes you have; but if you do not 
mind the expense, you can, of course, have planes made to 
cut the grooves you want. If you are going in for making 
many rods this will be the better plan — it is not necessary, 

B 







Fig. 28. 

however, to the tyro. The groove must be of a depth to 
suit the plan of the rod, and should be of slightly decreasing 
depth to form the taper. Assuming that the grooved block 
is ready, lay the square strip in it and plane away, with 
great care, all that part above the dotted line in fig. 28, A. 
Having done this, place it in the left-hand groove, at B, and 
again plane it — of course not touching the enamel; and the 
result should be as shown at fig. 25. 

Of course, the shape will not be quite correct. Take now 
a piece of saw-steel, and file with a trianuglar file several 
processes, like that shown in fig. 29. If you go to the trouble 
of marking them, as in fig. 27, so much the better for 5^our 
correctness of angle and truth of taper. Place the strips 



536 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



together as they are destined to be in the rod, every now and 
then, and so adjust them; but remember, the rod must be 
sohd when glued, and to this end each section must fit its 
neighbor exactly. Use the file frequently, and always at 
right-angles to the grain, in fitting. Precisely the same 
process is to be gone through in regard to the other joints, 
with the addition of ever-increasing care as to detail, till the 
three or four joints are got out, and are ready for the next 
process, namely, gluing together. 

A word as to the glue: Le Page's glue is the best I know, 




Fig. 29. 
but the ordinary Russian fish-glue is very good. Be careful 
to use it hot, and let your strips be warm also. Apply the 
glue with a brush rapidly, and glue in pairs first, and then 
the three pairs altogether next. Do this as quickly as possible, 
and then take a long piece of strong twine and wrap it 
rapidly and tightly around the strips in the same way as in 
the splicing of a Castle-Convill rod (see fig. 3), bringing the 
line back in a double coil, as shown at fig. 3, by the dotted 
lines. Let the joints dry in a warm room thoroughly. Any 
excess of glue on the outside can be scraped off when the 
wrapping: is removed. 

The most difficult part of the making of a split bamboo 
is now completed, and if you have been conscien- 
tious and thorough you will at least have a strong and even 
elegant rod, sufficiently enduring and presentable to encour- 
age you to make another. 

But the rod is as yet far from finished. After smoothing 
it off, the next operation is the ferruling. For the details 
of this you must refer back to what has already been said. 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



537 



It is specially necessary to be careful with them, and to make 
them a good fit, to prevent water getting into the rod and so 
loosening it — this is of very rare occurrence, however. Hav- 
ing fitted the ferrules to your satisfaction, joint the rod and 




Fig. 30. 

try it as recommended for the whole-wood rod; a little may 
be taken oH either end, if you find the balance not quite to 
your liking, but no other alteration can be made. 

The winding — by which is meant the whipping of silk 



538 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

thread at intervals up the rod to increase its strength — and 
the tying on of rings or guides— is a pleasant task, though 
requiring patience. The chief thing about it is the knowl- 
edge of how to tie off, or in other words, form the invisible 
knot. If the learner will carefully look over the diagram 
(fig. 30) he will be able to puzzle this task out without diffi- 
culty. Let him take a piece of string and a stick and hold 
it in the left hand with the thumb uppermost. Now pass one 
end of the string under it with that end pointing to the right. 
Now bring the twine down under, up, and over toward him 
and over the end of the twine — ^placing the thumb firmly on 
it. Repeat this two or three times. Now to fasten off with 
the invisible knot. Still holding the thumb at A, insert the 
end of the thread in a quill and retain it there by means of a 
plug (B). Now pass the thread in a large loop to the right, 
and drop the quill over in coils as shown, three or four times; 
finally bring it up to C as shown in the dotted line. Now 
wind D side by side with A and over C, not too tightly, and as 
you turn the stick round to do so you will find all the coils 
(E) unwind, being transferred as a continuation of A. C will 
be laid underneath them, and all you have to do is to pull 
gently but firmly on C, and the knot is made. 

The whipping should be at intervals of a few inches all 
down the rod, and may be of any-colored silk, waxed with 
either of the transparent waxes, or even with the cement 
given for ferrules. 

Necessarily in the foregoing a great deal has been left to 
the reader's ingenuity. Mechanical operations are the very 
hardest of all to describe, but as each process is explained in 
exact accordance with my own first efforts, I am induced to 
think this chapter will be sufficiently comprehensive and 
detailed to be useful. I once visited Alcock's factory, at 
Redditch, where five hundred people are regularly at work 
turning out tackle, and saw the chief Salmon-fly tier turning 
out most beautifully finished "Jock Scots'" at a rate that 



FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 539 

astounded me. "What is the secret of such fly-making.'" I 
asked. The answer came, paraphrasing Demosthenes' famous 
reply as to the secret of oratory: "Practice, practice, practice!" 
So I say, in concluding this chapter. Do not be discouraged 
by failure, by the tediousness and seeming difficulty of the 
task, by the possibly clumsy look of the finished rod, or by 
the lack of proportion. The secret, whole and entire, of 
pleasurable rod-making — in its facility and the beauty and 
satisfaction of the result, is "practice, practice, practice." 



REELS— THEIR USE AND ABUSE. 



BY B. C. MILAM. 



THE invention of the fishing reel dates back something 
over two centuries. The earhest mention of it, so far 
as I know, is in Baker's "Art of Anghng," London, 
165 1. He says: 

"Within two foot of the bottom of the rod. there was a 
hole made for to put in a wind, to turn with a barrell, to 
gather up his line, and loose it at his pleasure." 

In the second edition of his work, the author says: 

"You must have your winder within two foot of the bot- 
tom, to goe on your rod, made in this manner, with a spring, 
that you may put it on as low as , you please." 

In the "Compleat Angler," 1655, we read: 

"Note also that many use to fish for a Salmon with a ring 
of wire on the top of their rod, through which the line may run 
to as great a length as is needful, when he is hooked. And 
to that end, some use a wheel about the middle of their rod, 
or near their hand, which is to be observed better by seeing 
one of them, than by a large demonstration of words.'' 

The "Experienced Angler; or. Angling Improved," by Col. 
Robert Venables, 1662, shows, on its frontispiece, an illus- 
tration of the reel, as it was then made, and in the text the 
author says: 

541 



542 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

"The next way of angling is with a troll, for the Pike; 
you may buy your troll ready-made, therefore I shall not 
trouble myself to describe it, only let it have a winch to 
wind it withall, and when you may certainly conclude he 
hath pouched your bait, and rangeth abroad no more, then 
with your troll wind up your line, till you think you have it 
almost straight; then with a sharp jerk, hook him, and make 
your pleasure content. -" * * 

"The Salmon takes the artificial fly very well ; but you must 
use a troll, as for the Pike, for he, being a strong fish, will 
hazard your line except you give him length." 

From the character of these statements, we may safely 
conclude that the reel had but just been introduced, and was 
not then by any means well known. It appears, however, 
to have grown rapidly in favor during the remainder of the 
seventeenth century, and to have become recognized, by the 
beginning of the eighteenth, as a necessary article in every 
well-to-do angler's equipment. There are still to be found 
men who take fish with a hook, and who think they enjoy 
doing so, who adhere to the ancient float, and who scout the 
reel as a superfluous bit of modern extravagance. Such 
men, however, do not — cannot obtain the full meed of sport 
from angling. They are ignorant of one of the greatest 
sources of pleasure in either bait or fly fishing, namely, the 
music of the reel, the pleasure of taking and giving line, and 
the confidence and sense of superiority that the angler feels 
who holds the crank of his reel and watches the frantic leaps 
of the gamy Trout, the lusty Black Bass or the lordly 
Salmon. 

No Angler's outfit is, complete therefore, without a good 
reel, and the better the reel, the more complete his outing 
and his summer pleasure will be. As the heart is the seat 
of life, and as perfect health depends upon its action, so the 
reel is the most important part of an angler's kit, and the 
success of his tours depends upon its good behavior. Nothing 



KEELS THEIR USE AND ABUSE. 543 

can be more annoying-, and I might say heart-rending, than 
to have your reel give way at a critical moment, when a 
"champion catch" is tugging away at the end of your line; or 
equally sad and terrible is it to have a handle drop off or a 
screw work out and be lost, when you are far away from 
shop and civilization, leaving you helpless as a "condemned 
soul without claws," to watch the sport go on and gnash 
your teeth in agony. 

In order to avoid such misfortunes as above mentioned, 
and to furnish the Angler with an article he can depend on, 
a great deal of care and time, to say nothing of money, has 
been spent to perfect a reel to stand hard use and rough 
trips, and stay with him "from start to finish." In this broad 
land of ours, a man can find a reel, like everything else, to 
fit any purse. 

There are many different kinds of reels made, of various 
shapes and at various prices; but when you get one because 
it is cheap, you must expect a very unsatisfactory affair, and 
must prepare yourself for many a troublesome accident; for 
a good article cannot be made cheap. 

The cheapest is the common spool, with handle riveted 
dii'cctly to spool-bar; and the bearings of the bar at center 
of reel-plates. A good pattern of this form will allow you 
to cast fairly well, but when you begin to draw in your line, 
the trouble begins, for you lack speed. There are some 
styles of this spool made though, tall and narrow; this 
increases the diameter, and by mere size causes the line to 
be reeled in quite rapidly. 

The click- reel is of this style, being a spool with a perma- 
nent click attached. This is used only for fly-fishing, where 
an easy, free-running reel could not be used, because the rod 
is.caught above the spool and the line drawn off and whipped 
over the water. 

Then there is the automatic reel. This implement 
handles the fish literally on its own hook, and a sports- 



544 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

man who loves to feel his fish, and whose blood tingles 
when his rod bends and his line cuts the water, who revels 
in that honorable, just feeling, peculiar to all true anglers, 
when he puts his skill and generalship against the finny 
beauty's pluck, endurance and strength, could never use and 
enjoy this style of reel. 

We have, in the next class, the multiplier. This class is 
as numerous as the sands, and the price varies according to 
material and workmanship. They are all made after the 
same style and upon the same principle, viz: a wheel work- 
ing into a pinion, the pinion attached to the spool multiply- 
ing twice, four times, or even oftener. Some people are sur- 
prised when they hear that a fine multiplying reel costs sev- 
enty-five dollars or one hundred dollars; but when we explain 
that these extra fine ones are made of coin-silver, with gold 
slides and trimmings and jeweled bearings, the price does not 
appear extravagant. 

The material generally used for their construction is brass, 
hard rubber, and german silver. By german silver, is not 
meant nickel-plated — for this is only a brass foundation, plated 
over with nickel, and after a short service, the latter rubs off, 
leaving an unsightly looking surface; but german silver is 
hard solid metal, the same color clear through, takes a high 
finish, and is about the best material used for making reels. 

A perfect multiplier requires as much care in its construc- 
tion and as skilled workmanship as the finest watch; and when 
you see an announcement that a firm is making an all-machine 
article, and have done away with "the old-time hand-made 
principle," you had better not go to this firm, for a lasting 
companion. 

In 1834, fifty-five years ago, I saw the need of a first-class 
reel — one that could be relied upon, and that would always 
be found in order, I was then at the watch-making business. 
I spent several weeks at hard work, and at last finished a 
reel of as fine workmanship as I was capable of doing. 



REELS — THEIR USE AND ABUSE. 545 

This was made of brass. I had hardly finished it, when a 
local angler who had experienced much trouble, came in and 
at once bought it for twenty dollars. He used it for a long 
time, and it proved so easy and so smooth, in operation, 
and stood the rough usage so well, that several other anglers 
came and ordered duplicates of it. So the "Frankfort, or 
Kentucky" Reel was first made. 

Those made for local anglers found their way abroad, and 
a good trade has been built up on this class of reels. Anglers 
have found that a reel that is high-priced at first, proves 
cheapest in the end, for those made away back in the thirties, 
are good to-day, and have been in constant use ever since 
they left the shop. There is only one way to make a perfect 
whole, and that is to make each part perfect as you go. In 
the first place, you should get your metal rolled hard till it 
springs like steel. The caps and plates are then cut from 
this. Never should a casting be used; it is too soft, and a 
smart fall may break your cap, and render this part of your 
outfit useless. Bars are turned from the same hard material. 
Next, your gearing must be adjusted so that you feel not a 
bump, but a steady roll when the handle is turned and the 
weight is put on. The pinions must be of properly tempered 
steel, and the wheel of hard-hammered brass. Thus, all 
your parts gotten out, they must be put together with 
great care, so that when the thing is complete, it runs noise- 
lessly and smoothly, yet the spool is free from shake or 
vibration. 

The secret, in a long-lived reel, is the gearing. This must 
be made to absolutely roll. If there is the slightest friction 
the evil will continue to grow with use, and soon you will 
have a regular coffee mill. This is the part that requires the 
greatest skill in its construction. 

The truest machinery will occasionally produce an imper- 
fect tooth. After we have made our wheels with the latest 
and best gear-cutter, also our pinions, every pair is tested 



546 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

and the least bump or jar is taken off with a iile by hand. 
This requires experience and knowledge, and herein lies the 
superiority of our hand-made gearing. We expend more 
time and labor on our gearing alone than is used to make 
a complete machine reel; but after this is done, and done 
correctly, you are equipped for a life-time. We make eleven 
sizes, from 00 to 9. The 00 is one and one-fourth inches in 
diameter, and the 9, three and one-half. Nos. 7, 8 and 9 
are for Tarpon-fishing and heavy sea-work, while o and 00 
are fancy sizes, and too small for much heavy angling. Nos. 
2, 3 and 4 are the sizes most used. We attach a click and 
drag so that our reels can be used for bait-fishing, fly-fishing 
or trolling. 

A reel requires a great deal more care than many of them 
receive. We frequently get them in, for repairs, that have 
been used ten or twelve years, and that have never been 
oiled. A reel is a delicate piece of machinery, and requires 
oil and care accordingly, if you would get the best work out 
of it. Properly, it should be cleaned and oiled every fall, 
after the fishing season is over, and every spring before it 
begins. With a little care, one can clean the reel himself, 
and save time and money. First get a screw -driver, small 
enough to fit the screws on face-plate, then take the handle 
off first, next remove the top screws, then the bottom screws. 
Never touch the alarm and rubber screws; let them alone 
and they will take care of themselves. They are so arranged 
that you can get your cap off and not interfere with the 
blocks. So, be careful, for this is where you are likely to 
get into trouble, by taking out alarm and rubber blocks and 
not being able to put them in properly. It is best, as already 
stated, to let them alone. Now you have all the screws out 
of the cap, and you find the cap refuses to slip off. See if 
you have the rubber off; if you have, that is the cause; for 
the rubber block is under a spring that is screwed to the 
inside plate, and holds your cap fast; so slip the bottom, so 



REELS THEIK USE AXD ABUSE. 54/ 

that the drag is on. Now try, and if you cannot pull the cap 
off put one of the top screws in the outside hole, in the one 
it came out of; don't screw it in, simply put it in as fur as it 
will go, and then tap the head with the butt of your screw- 
driver, and your cap will drop off. Now take out the screw 
in the end of the top-bar, and your end-plate will come off, 
and your reel will be in pieces and ready to clean. Get a 
tooth-brush and some alcohol, and clean every part, and 
then take a piece of pine, sharpen the end and put in the first 
holes at the ends of plate and cap, cut off the lock dirt and 
put it in again, and again clean it till the stick comes out 
clean. Clean inside of wheel in same way. After you have 
your parts all bright, you are ready to oil. The great mis- 
take made, generally, is in putting in too much oil. By 
doing this, you clog your spool and it will not run. Put one 
drop of good sperm oil in the first hole in plate, one in cap, 
two on pinion that reel runs on, one on end of drag-pin, and 
three on the teeth of the brass wheel at different points. 
Now put the parts up just as you took them down, and your 
reel is as free-running as when new. Do this every fall and 
spring, and a good reel will last fifty years. 

No matter how tight-fitting your reel may be, you should 
clean and oil it after fishing in salt water — not every day, 
but after each salt-water trip, it should be cleaned and oiled, 
for nothing injures a reel so much as salt water. It fairly 
chews up the steel parts, so the salt water should not be 
allowed to stand long on a reel. 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 



BY G. O. SHIELDS. 



AS many of the best fishing waters are in the wilderness, 
remote from hotels or even from farm houses and ran- 
■- ches, and as much of the best fishing can therefore be 
done only from camps, it is deemed proper to give here some 
general observations and instructions on the subject of camp- 
ing out. What I shall say will be designed specially for 
young sportsmen, or novices in the matter of field sports, 
and yet it is possible that my thirty years of experience in 
wood-craft and mountaineering may enable me to say some 
things that will interest the "old boys," as well. 

So many anglers are also devotees of the rifle or gun that 
it may not be out of place to cover, in so far as it can be 
done in a limited paper like this, the subject of camping in 
general, whether for hunting, fishing, or merely for fresh air, 
rest and recreation. 

CLOTHING. 

Before camping come the busy notes of preparation for 
camping; and the first and most important question on this 
point is, "What shall I wear.?" My answer to this question 
is, "Whatever you wear, let it be all wool." No matter at 
what time of year you are going out, whether in mid-summer 
or in mid-winter, in spring or fall; whether your destination 



550 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

is Alaska or Florida, Canada or California, the Adirondacks 
or the Rockies, don't put on a garment that has a thread of 
cotton in it, unless it be in the way of overalls or overcoat. 
I say this advisedly, and you will agree with me when you 
have studied and experimented on this subject as long as I 
have. In fact, this rule should be rigidly adhered to, by 
every man, woman and child, the year round, at home or 
abroad. It is adhered to by every man and woman who has 
given the matter thorough and careful consideration. 

Woolen underwear, especially, is cooler in summer and 
warmer in winter than cotton, linen or silk; does not stick 
to you when you perspire, and if you wear it you will not 
know one half the aches, pains and chills you have known 
while wearing either of the other fabrics. If you are caught 
out in a rain-storm and get wet to the skin, or if your boat 
capsizes and you have to swim, neither the water nor the 
air will feel half so cold to you if dressed in woolen as if in 
cotton. The woolen goods dry more quickly, and you suffer 
less than half the ill effects, in either case, that you would 
have suffered had you been clad in cotton. Observe the 
loggers, the raftsmen, the cowboys, the miners, professional 
hunters and trappers. They wear woolen the year round, 
and they ought to know what is good for them, for nearly 
their whole lives are spent outdoors and where they are 
exposed to various kinds and degrees of hardship. Go thou 
and learn wisdom from them. I have not worn a cotton or 
linen undergarment, at home or abroad, for years, and I 
never knew how to enjoy hot weather until I discarded those 
delusive "duds." 

Select then for your outing two suits of woolen underwear 
— light weight if you are going in hot weather, heavy weight if 
you are going in cool or cold weather. Let your outside 
shirts be heavy-weight woolen, no matter what the weather 
is to be. Dark blue is the best color for these. Socks may 
be light or heavy, according to the season, and to j'our fancy. 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 55 I 

but heavy weight is best if you are liable to get your feet 
wet. Six pairs of these and two suits of underwear will be 
enough for a month in camp. You can wash them or have 
them washed once a week, or oftener, if you choose. A 
coat, vest and trousers of almost any strong woolen goods 
may be worn. An old, cast-off business suit is just the 
thi;:g. Plenty of pockets are desirable, and it is well to 
have two large inside pockets made in the skirt of your coat, 
which will be found useful for carrying your lunch, a pair of 
dry socks, a reel, and other bulky property. A canvas hunt- 
ing-coat and a pair of canvas overalls may be worn over 
these if desired. 

Personally, I prefer buckskin for hunting, in the late fall 
or winter. It resists brush and cold winds better than any- 
thing, but is likely to be sneered at by the "smart Alecks" in 
the rural districts. 

In summer a light rubber coat should be carried; in fall or 
winter a Mackintosh is better. It should be made to reach 
nearly to your haels, and is about the only kind of overcoat 
that should ever be carried in the woods or mountains. A 
heavy overcoat is bulky, and is a burden to a man when 
hunting. If the weather grows extremely cold, put on your 
other heavy blue flannel shirt. It will answer the same 
purpose, and be much less burdensome. 

If you are to sleep in blankets, a long flannel night-shirt, 
long enough to come below your feet, will add greatly to 
your comfort; but if you are to use a sleeping bag this will 
not be needed, and in fact it cannot be conveniently worn in 
the bag. In either case, take off all your clothing except 
undershirt and drawers. The old hunter's plan of sleeping 
in trousers, vest, and even coat, is not a good one. 

About the best head-gear, for winter or summer, North or 
South, is a medium light-weight, light-colored felt hat with a 
moderately broad brim. This withstands all kinds of 
weather, can be rolled up and stuck in the pocket, in a war- 



552 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

bag or valise, and is an adequate protection against the rain 
or the rays of the sun. A pair of ear-muffs should be pro- 
vided, to wear in extreme cold weather. For mid-winter, in 
high latitudes, a thick, knitted woolen cap is good, and this 
should be large enough to come well down over the ears and 
back of the neck. A silk or light worsted skull-cap is some- 
times needed when sleeping outdoors in cold weather, but 
should not be worn unless absolutely necessary. Never 
wear a fur cap when hunting, if j^ou value your hair or your 
health. If you do so, your head will get hot when you walk, 
and the perspiration will run down your neck; you will take 
off 3'our cap to get relief, and will get a cold in your head 
that is liable to last you a month. 

As to foot-gear there is a great diversity of opinion among 
sportsmen. No boot or shoe has ever been made that was 
perfect in every particular for hunting and fishing. Rubber 
and leather are both objectionable, under certain conditions. 
No leather is suitable for wading, nor for walking in the woods 
in rainy weather or in wet snow, because no leather is water- 
proof; and none of the so-called water-proofing materials 
will make it so. They will render it partially so, for a time, 
but you may soak your boots in the best of it, then put them 
on and walk half a day in wet grass or wet snow and the 
water will get in all the same. As good a thing as any 
extant for all-round hunting and fishing, aside from wading, 
is a medium-weight leather walking-shoe with a heavy sole 
and abroad, low heel. It should be made to fit the foot, and if 
so made one may walk comfortably in it all day. You may 
be compelled to wade a creek or a swamp occasionally, and 
so to get your feet wet; but if you wear thick woolen socks, 
as already advised, no serious trouble is likely to result from 
this. You are not likely to take cold, your feet are not likely 
to be blistered, and you will be much less tired than if you 
had worn a pair of heavy leather boots. 

For wading, for walking in wet weather, or in wet snow, 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 553 

I have never found anything better than the Hannaford 
ventilated rubber boot, with rubber lining. If this boot gets 
wet inside, either from perspiration or from getting beyond 
your depth in water, take it off, pour out the water, and in a 
few minutes the boot will be dry again, and your socks and 
trousers are not dyed red, green or blue, as they would have 
been if the boot had been lined with felt of either color. 

When the upper portion of the leg of the boot is not 
needed for wading, turn it down clear to the foot, then turn 
it and bring the upper edge to the top of the stiffened por- 
tion of the boot-leg. The lower end of the fold will now be 
midway between the knee and the foot. Give this two turns 
upward, and you have the surplus material neatly reefed in, 
just below the knee, where it will stay a week if desired, and 
give little trouble by catching on brush or other obstructions. 

Felt boots are a favorite with lumbermen for winter-wear, 
and, with rubber shoes over them, make a comfortable foot- 
gear for extremely cold weather. Rubber wading-trousers 
and wading-stockings are good in fishing-waters, where there 
is little walking to do on dry land; but where there is much 
of this to do, they make the wearer uncomfortable because 
of the lack of proper ventilation. After walking a few 
hundred yards in them, either through woods or fields, in 
hot weather (and the weather is usually hot when men go 
Trouting) you will get so hot that you will wish you had 
never seen the pesky breeches, and that you had worn simply 
a pair of hip rubber boots. If the water be too deep for hip- 
boots, I prefer to wear simply a pair of old leather shoes, and 
to get wet; for if one be dressed wholly in heavy woolen 
clothing there is little danger of any serious results from 
getting wet. 

For dry weather and dry land, winter or summer, in the 
woods, in the mountains or on the prairies, the most com- 
fortable and serviceable of all foot-gear is a pair of heavy 
buckskin moccasins. It is the'most natural, reasonable, per- 



554 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



feet piece of foot-wear ever known to human beings. The 
only time I ever feel thankful to the man who invented 
Indians is when I get awa}' from civilization and put on a 





No. 1. 





No. 3. 

of moccasins. 



No. 4. 



pair oi moccasms. I then forget about my corns and other 
troubles, and wish I could stay in the wilderness forever. 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 555 

For fall and winter-hunting^ they should be made large 
enough to permit the wearing of two pairs of socks, and if 
the rocks hurt your feet put a pair of sole leather insoles in 
the moccasins. The accompanying diagram will enable any 
glove-maker or shoemaker to make a pair. 

If you wear leather shoes you will need, in addition, a 
pair of leggings. I have never seen a pair of these that I 
liked, and so devised an improvement on existing styles. I 
bought a pair of ordinary brown canvas leggings, that were 
made to buckle on the inside. I cut off the straps and buck- 
les, and sewed on, at one side of the opening, a flap half an 
inch wide, in such a position that when the legging was 
wrapped tightly around my leg, one edge overlapping the 
other about two inches, this flap would nearly meet the outer 
edge. Then put eyelets in this flap and in the opposite edge 
of the legging. I now take two extra-long shoe-laces, splice 
them, and, beginning at the bottom, lace the leggings up as I 
would a shoe, and have a leg-gear that fits, sets easy, and 
has no hooks or buckles to catch in brush or weeds, and 
which, consequently, saves much of the annoyance that is 
inflicted on the wearer of any of the other styles in the 
market. 

Buckskin makes about the best glove for all-round work, 
except for wet weather, and then a pair of rubber gloves will 
add greatly to your comfort. For hunting, in extremely 
cold weather, a heavy, loose yarn-mitten, that you can pull 
on over your buckskin glove, is invaluable. 

Snow-shoes are indispensable for winter-hunting, either in 
the North-woods or in the mountains. Those made by weav- 
ing raw-hide thongs on a wooden bow are best. They can 
usually be bought of the large dealers in the cities or in the 
settlement or town nearest to the hunting country. 

THE WAR-BAG. 

And now that you have made up }-our list of wearing 



55^ AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

apparel, you want something in which to carry that part 
of it that you do not put on at the start. The simplest, 
cheapest, and one of the most serviceable articles for this 
purpose is an ordinary seamless grain-bag. It costs twenty- 
five cents, and is more popular among loggers, freighters, 
cowboys, miners and other professional rustlers than any 
other "trunk" in the market. In such circles it is universally 
known as the "war-bag." Into it go boots, clothing, grub, 
ropes, tools and everything else that cannot be carried else- 
where. It is always ready and there is always room in it 
for something else. The only objection to it is that the 
thing you want is sure to be at the bottom of it; but it is the 
work of only a minute to dump the whole business on the 
earth, get what you want and stow the rest away again. It 
is well to put a coat of water-proof paint on the bag in order 
that if caught in a rain it will keep your outfit dry. The 
rubber companies make a bag, of rubber or Mackintosh, 
that is thoroughly water-proof, and is an excellent thing to 
have in wet weather, or in case your boat capsizes when your 
worldly effects are on board; but it is rather expensive, cost- 
ing about six dollars. 

If, however, you are to travel entirely by rail or team, a 
trunk is admissible. It should be as small as possible, 
should be covered with raw-hide and well ironed. A small 
trunk may even be carried on a pack-mule, but it is a cruelty 
to the mule to put such a thing on him, and it is furthermore 
a constant source of annoyance to its owner and to the 
packer. 

TOILET-CASE. 

A valuable toilet-case is made of two pieces of drilling 
.hirty-six inches long — one nine inches wide, the other eight- 
een. The wider piece is cut square at one end and tapered 
to a point at the other. The narrow strip is now laid through 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 557 

the center of the wide one, sewed across each end and along one 
edge, being held full so as to shorten it to the length of the 
wide part of the longer strip. The space is now divided into 
a series of pockets, varying in width from one to six inches, by 
running seams through both thicknesses of the cloth. Now 
sew a yard of tape to the pointed end of the outer piece of 
drilling, bind or hem the raw edges of the goods, and you 
have a most convenient catch-all for your soap, towel, comb, 
hair-brush, tooth-brush, needles, thread, bachelor buttons, 
and various other small articles that would get lost anywhere 
else. 

MOSQUITO-DOPE. 

If going into the woods or mountains in summer, you will 
require a lotion to keep off mosquitoes and flies. Many 
preparations are sold for this purpose, all of which have 
more or less merit; but the objection to most of them is that 
they are not durable. They evaporate rapidly and have to 
be applied every half-hour or so. I have tried nearly all of 
them, but have never found anything that did the work so 
thoroughly as the following mixture: To three ounces of pine- 
tar add two ounces of castor-oil and one ounce of oil of 
pennyroyal. This mixture has a good body, an odor like a 
tan-yard, will last all day, and can be relied on to stand off 
any herd of mosquitoes this side of New Jersey. Those 
muzzles that are made of gauze and intended to be worn 
over your head are a failure. Several times while wearing 
one I wanted to spit, and forgot that I was muzzled until I 
got myself in a most uncomfortable predicament. When 
I wanted to eat or drink I had to take the measly thing off, 
and then the mosquitoes crawled down my spine and made 
me wish I were dead. Finally, while wading a Trout-stream, 
an overhanging limb caught the gauzy gaud, flipped it over 
into the next school-district, and I have never seen it since. 
Then I greased myself with my tar-ointment and was happ}'. 



5 5^ AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

BEDDING. 

Too much care cannot be given to this subject. Next to 
that of a good suit of clothing it is the most important part 
of a camp-outfit. As I have before had occasion to say, I 
would rather get into a good bed at night, without my sup- 
per, than sit at a feast and then sleep on the hard ground 
without covering enough to keep me warm. After a hard 
day's work at tramping or rowing, a good night's rest is abso- 
lutely necessary to prepare one for the labor and fatigue of 
the following day. This can be had only in a good bed. 
You may possibly tramp all day with your feet wet — all your 
clothing wet, if need be — without injury to yourself; but be 
sure you crawl into a good, warm, dry, soft bed at night. 
Blankets are the staple article of camp-bedding, and you 
should never go into camp with less than two pairs of good 
heavy ones, even in summer; and in fall or winter the num- 
ber must be increased as the temperature descends. 

But the boss camp-bed for all times and all climes, for all 
tramps and all climbs, is a sleeping-bag. I would as soon 
think of going into the woods without my rilie as without my 
sleeping-bag. 

The following description of it, taken from my book, 
"Cruisings in the Cascades," is re-printed here for the bene- 
fit of such as may not have seen it there: 

The outer bag is made of heavy, brown, waterproof canvas, 
six feet long, three feet wide in the centre, tapered to two feet 
at the head and sixteen inches at the foot. Above the head 
of the bag proper, flaps project a foot farther, with which the 
occupant's head may be completely covered, if desired. 
These are provided with buttons and button-holes, so that they 
may be buttoned clear across, for stormy or very cold weather. 
The bag is left open, from the head down one edge, two feet, 
and a flap is provided to lap over this opening. Buttons are 
sewed on the bag, and there are button-holes in the flaps so 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 559 

it may also be buttoned up tightl}-. Inside of this canvas bag 
is another of the same size and shape, less the head flaps. 
This is made of lamb skin with the wool on, and is lined with 
ordinary sheeting, to keep the wool from coming in direct con- 
tact with the person or clothing, and with one good heavy 
blanket inside, the whole business weighs but eighteen pounds. 
One or more pairs of blankets may be folded and inserted in 
this, as may be necessary, for any temperature in which it is 
to be used. 

If the weather be warm, so that not all this covering is nee- 
ded over the sleeper, he may shift it to suit the weather and 
his taste, crawling in on top of as much of it as he may wish, 
and the less he has over him the more he will have under him, 
and the softer will be his bed. Beside being waterproof, the 
canvas is windproof, and one can button himself up in this 
house, leaving only an air-hole at the end of his nose, and 
sleep as soundly, and almost as comfortably in a snowdrift on 
the prairie as in a tent or house. In short, he may be ab- 
solutely at home, and comfortable, wherever night finds him, 
and no matter what horrid nightmares he may have, he can 
not roll out of bed or kick off the covers. 

Nor will he catch a draft of cold air along the north edge 
of his spine every time he turns over, as he is liable to do when 
sleeping in blankets. Nor will his feet cra\vl out from under 
the cover and catch chilblains, as they are liable to do in the 
old-fashioned way. In fact, this sleeping-bag is one of the 
greatest luxuries I ever took into camp, and if any brother 
sportsman wants one and cannot find an architect in his 
neighborhood capable of building it, let him write me and I 
will tell him where mine was made. 

Good cot-beds are now made for camp-use, that fold into 
a small package, are light, but strong and durable, and if 
you have the means of carrying one, it is well to take it 
along, for it will add greatly to your comfort. If you have 
not, here is a map of one that you can carry on almost any 



560 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

trip: Take a piece of eight-ounce duck-canvas, about six 
inches longer than yourself and forty inches wide. Run a 
hem on each side six inches wide — double-seaming it, on a 
machine, with the heaviest thread it will carry. Then when 
you get into camp take two poles, about three inches in 
diameter and a foot longer than your canvas, and run them 
through the hems; lay the ends in four good strong forks 
driven in the ground, or lay them on two logs and brace the 
ends of the poles apart with two sticks cut to the proper 
length to stretch your canvas tightly. You now have a good 
springy cot, on which you can spread your blankets or sleep- 
ing-bag, and sleep more comfortably, after a hard day's 
tramp, than you would on your woven-wire or spring-and- 
hair mattress at home, after being shut up in your office 
all day. 

If you have plenty of transportation and don't take a can- 
vas-cot, take a cotton or wool mattress. It need not be 
more than two feet wide and three inches thick. The weight 
is insignificant. The only question is that of bulk, and if 
you can take it along it will go a long way toward shortening 
the nights. As a substitute for this and the cot, carry an 
empty bed-tick. It weighs only a couple of pounds, and you 
will often find chances to fill it with straw, hay, or even with 
green grass, weeds or browse, any of which are better than 
nothing. 

One way to provide for a comfortable night's rest, in 
extremely cold weather, is to build a big log-fire, let it burn 
several hours, then move it away and make your bed where 
the fire was. The earth is thoroughly heated, and by cover- 
ing up the site and preventing — in a measure, at least — the 
escape of the heat, the ground will keep warm all night, and 
you may sleep as comfortably as it in a feather-bed at home. 

A good soft pillow is also essential to a good night's rest. 
It costs but a trifle, weighs about the same, and takes up 
but little room. It may be loaded with corn-shucks or goose- 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 56 1 

hair, the latter being generally preferable. If, however, you 
are traveling with a small pack-train, where every inch and 
every ounce of weight must be carefully considered, a good 
substitute for a civilized pillow is made by placing a couple 
of suits of underwear in a flour-sack. They should be folded 
carefully and laid in smooth, so that there may be no lumps 
or wrinkles, and in this way they make a very fair pillow for 
a tired man. When it becomes necessary to wear them, you 
wash your others and put them in the bag in place of those 
you have taken out. 

The rubber pillow cannot be recommended. It is not so 
bulky as a feather-pillow, it is true, but is fully as heavy and 
not so comfortable to sleep on. 

A rubber blanket is a good thing to have along to spread 
on the ground under your bed, if you do not use a cot, or to 
spread over your cot if you have one. It prevents dampness 
and cold from coming from the ground into your bed. It 
will also be found useful to roll your bedding in while travel- 
ing, to protect it from rain and dust. 

Two or three sheets of water-proof canvas, each four feet 
wide and eight feet long, are useful in camp for various pur- 
poses. One of them should be over your bed. It is good 
protection against cold winds and against rain, if you have to 
camp without a tent, as is sometimes necessary. Others are 
useful for covering up saddles and other property in camp, 
and to spread over the packs while traveling. When thus 
used they are called manteaus. 

For winter-camping, in cold climates, a buffalo robe is 
useful, but under any other circumstances, is an unnecessary 
incumbrance. 

If you have not a canvas-cot or a mattress, always procure 
pine, hemlock, fir or cedar boughs for a foundation for your 
bed, if in a country where they can be had. If not, then 
brush of almost any kind is better than the hard ground. If 
none of these can be had. get hay, straw, rushes, grass, or even 



562 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

weeds — anything that will have some elasticity and relieve 
the solid monotony of mother earth. Remember that a good 
bed makes a short night, and vice versa. You had better 
work until ten o'clock at night in making your bed, than turn 
into a hard one at dark, and then groan with tired joints 
from midnight until daylight. 

Some hunters condemn boughs as useless, and say they 
soon pack and become as hard as the ground itself. This is 
because they don't put down enough of them. Always lay 
them from a foot to two feet deep, and be careful to have no 
large limbs among them. In this way you will have a bed 
that will give with every movement of the body and that 
will remain soft all night — or a dozen nights in succession, 
for that matter. 

CAMP-EQUIPAGE. 

The first and most important article in this line is the tent. 
The size and style of this must of course depend, in a great 
measure, on the number of persons to occupy it and the kind 
and quantity of transportation with which the party is to be 
provided. If four men are going together and have a wagon, 
or a large boat, and no portages to make, or if they are to 
travel with packs and have plenty of them, then a wall-tent 
eight by ten, or ten by twelve feet, may be taken. In mak- 
ing up for the pack or boat outfit, the tent-poles should be 
jointed, the various joints being not more than three feet 
long. This is done by means of wrought iron strap-hinges 
screwed to one side of the pole, and two staples or strap-iron 
loops, one above and one below the cut, on the opposite side 
from the hinge, with a half-inch round iron pin passing 
through both. For a larger party of course a larger sized 
tent is necessary, and where it is possible to carry it, a Sibley 
tent, such as is now used by the United States army, is an 
excellent thing. But better than either is a round tent, after 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 563 

the style of the Indian teepee. The one that I have used on 
several trips is eight feet in diameter on the ground, and 
eight feet high, tapered nearly to a point at the top, and hav- 
ing an opening there eighteen inches in diameter. One of 
the seams is split from the ground four feet upward, has flaps 
on either side, and strings attached with which to loop it up. 
This forms a door. The tent has loops at intervals of two 
feet all around the bottom, and a half-inch rope is rove into 
the edge of the canvas around the top-opening. It is made 
of a light-weight, firmly woven drilling, weighs only eight 
pounds, affords ample sleeping-room for two men, and stor- 
age room for their baggage. It is mounted on four or six 
poles (the latter number is best) eleven feet long, which are 
cut wherever night overtakes us. These are tied together six 
inches from the top- end, the ends are slipped through the top- 
opening of the tent; they are then set up, and the lower ends 
are spread so as to form a perfect square, if there be but four 
poles, or a hexagon if there be six. The tent is now pinned 
down tightly and is ready to live in. Jointed poles may be 
carried for this tent also; if so, there should be but three of 
them. These should be made fifteen feet long and in five 
pieces. They should in that case be made of heavy bamboo 
and jointed with strong brass ferrules, the same as are used 
for heavy bamboo fishing rods. They may then be placed 
outside of the tent and erected in the form of a tripod, the tent' 
afterward being suspended to them by ropes attached to the 
small rope which encircles the opening in the top of the 
tent. 

A fire may be made in the center of this tent when needed. 
Thus it proves a great advantage over a wall-tent, or any 
other style which will not admit of fire being made inside 
without a stove. A large, roaring, log camp-fire is one of the 
important elements of comfort in a camp, when the weather 
will admit of its being maintained and enjoyed; but there are 
times when it cannot be, on account of rain or severe cold, 



564 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

and in such cases it is a great luxury to be able to build a small 
fire inside of the tent, crawl in, close the door and defy the 
elements. Mr. Orin Belknap, an old-time hunter and ranch- 
man, of Thetis, Washington Territory, and well known to all 
readers of sportsmen's literature as "Uncle Fuller," devised 
a plan for feeding a fire inside a tent of this description, which 
he called by the name of a certain well-known cooking-range 
in the market, but which I have thought proper to rechristen 
the "Belknap Range." The plan is this: two trenches, six 
inches wide and deep, are cut from the outer sides of the 
tent running at right-angles to each other and crossing in the 
center of the tent. These are covered with bark or boards 
or flat rocks, except at their intersection. Here two green 
sticks, about two feet long and four inches thick, are laid at 
a distance of two feet apart; a piece of heavy sheet-iron or a 
large flat rock is laid on them and the fire built on this. The 
purpose of these trenches is to supply fresh air for the fire 
and thus create a draft to carry off the smoke, through the 
opening in the top of the tent. This arrangement has been 
found effective, and has afforded a great deal of comfort in 
many a bitter cold night, to "Uncle Fuller" and his compan- 
ions, while hunting in the mountains. 

If a wall-tent be used, then a sheet-iron stove should be 
carried along. There are several of these in the market — one 
at least intended solely for heating purposes, and others for 
both heating and cooking. Any tinner can make a good 
camp heating-stove. The best pattern is simply a cone 
with the pipe collar on the smaller end. This is placed with 
the larger opening on the ground; and near the lower part of 
it is a door about six inches wide by eight inches high. 
Four joints of pipe should be carried, each about twenty-two 
inches long, and made to telescope so that when packed they 
are but little longer than one joint would be. The stove may 
be made in any desired size, but one of about eighteen inches 
in diameter at the mouth and eighteen inches high, will, if 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 565 

well fed with good dry wood, roast you out of a tent twenty 
feet in diameter when the mercury stands forty degrees below 
zero. 

Camp cooking-stoves are made either solid or to fold 
up, but the former pattern is on the whole most desirable. 
The size of this would also be regulated by the number of 
hungry men to be fed from it; but by economical use a stove 
twelve inches high, sixteen inches wide and twenty-six inches 
long, with four holes and an oven, will furnish cooking 
capacity for six men. Little space need be occupied by the 
stove, for in packing for transit you can fill both the oven 
and fire-box with tin-ware and cooking utensils. The stove 
should be packed in a strong box or trunk, made for the pur- 
pose, with metal corner-pieces, handles and lock. It can 
then be checked on railroad trains as other baggage, and may 
be placed on a pack-animal or hauled in a wagon over any 
kind of road without injury. 

Another important item in almost any camp outfit is a 
boat. If the chief object of the expedition be Ashing or 
duck-shooting, or if for any reason a large portion of the out- 
ing is to be on water, where boats are not kept for rent, then 
this item will be one of the first to be considered, and sub- 
stantial lap-streak or other wooden boats would be provided. 
But if the trip is in search of large game there is scarcely 
any section of the country likely to be visited in which a boat 
of this character could be carried conveniently, and yet a boat 
is sure to be frequently needed. Lakes or streams are likely 
to be encountered where some kind of a craft would be a 
welcome accessory for fishing, exploring or for reaching 
desirable hunting grounds, that would otherwise be inacces- 
sible. Canvas folding boats are now made that are so serv- 
iceable and seaworthy that I should never start on a hunting 
trip, in any country where I expected to find much water, 
without one in my outfit. One of the best of these, so far 
as I know, is made by N. A. Osgood, of Battle Creek, Mich. 



566 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

His No. 2 boat, which is twelve feet long, three feet wide, 
and weighs when light-rigged but twenty-eight pounds, folds 
into a package sixteen inches in diameter, three feet long, 
and is capable of carrying 600 pounds. 

A photograph camera is another essential element of the 
pleasure of almost every party in search of either fish or game. 
In the selection of this instrument of course you must consider 
your bank account and the question of transportation. A 
tripod camera, that will make a five-by-eight picture, fitted 
with a twenty-five dollar lens, is desirable, but is both bulky 
and expensive. A good detective camera, carrying a four-by- 
five plate, is sufficient for recording all the choice bits of 
scenery, views of camp, fish, and game, and for making por- 
traits of the party, of a satisfactory quality. These vary in 
price from ten or twelve dollars up to one-hundred dollars. 
The little Kodak, and the Waterbury, are good for the 
prices at which they are sold; but if one's means will admit 
of a larger outlay, then it is better to have an Anthony 
instrument, costing, when fitted up with roll-holder, about 
eighty dollars. Glass negatives should no longer be thought 
of for outdoor work. Celluloid is now prepared for this 
purpose, and works so successfully as to effectually displace 
glass for all time to come. No chemical outfit need be car- 
ried for developing plates in camp. This part of the work 
should be deferred until your return to civilization. Photog- 
raphy has been so simplified of late years by the introduc- 
tion of the dry-plate process, and by various other improve- 
ments, that by careful study of the little book entitled "How 
to Make Photographs," which is furnished with each camera, 
and a few days devoted to making experiments, any person 
of ordinary intelligence may learn to make fair pictures. Of 
course it requires years of careful study and practice to become 
an expert photographer; but such is not the aim of most per- 
sons who take up the subject simply as an adjunct to hunt- 
ing and fishing, and to make such pictures as would be sat- 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 



567 



isfactory to most people under these circumstances, I repeat, 
but little study and practice are needed. A strong, solid 
trunk should be made for the camera, into which it should fit 
snugly, and be protected from concussion by pads of cotton 
or wool. Apartments should be made at one end of the 
trunk to hold the celluloid rolls and such other items as 
may be provided to carry with the camera The trunk 
should be thoroughly ironed and provided with handles. It 
may then be checked as other baggage, without fear of injury 
to its contents. A rubber bag should also be provided, into 
which the camera can be inserted for carrying it short dis- 
tances, as a protection against rain. 

Another handy item in a camp-outfit is a pack-strap. This 

is a kind of human harness, 
made to fit over the shoul- 
ders, and with straps at- 
tached, for buckling up the 
roll of bedding, clothing, or 
whatever else is to be 
carried. The accompanying 
diagram will enable any 
shoemaker or harnessmaker 
to make one. This strap is 
often useful in carrying a 
light outfit into the woods or 
mountains, or for carrying 
game out of sections of coun- 
try where a horse cannot 
travel. Each man should 
carry, when tramping or ri- 
ding in the country, a rubber 
drinking cup. He should also advise his companions to do 
likewise. This thing of all having to drink out of one cup is 
not always pleasant, and often entails unnecessary delay 
when crossing a stream. 




568 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

A generous supply of rope should be provided in every 
camping outfit. It v^ill frequently come in demand for vari- 
ous purposes. Not less than fifty feet each — of quarter-inch 
and half-inch — should be provided, in addition to the picket 
ropes, tent ropes, etc. 

Each man should carry a field-glass. It is one of the 
greatest luxuries imaginable for a trip on the mountains or 
plains, and will often come into play in wooded countries. 
By its aid rocks are often turned into living animals, and 
vice versa. Elks or bears are often found to be only cattle 
or horses; and domestic sheep sometimes turn out to be 
antelopes. A clear pool of water is often transformed into 
a dry bed of alkali, and a white rock sometimes proves to be 
a wild goat. The glass is useful in hunting lost horses and 
in looking out favorable camping grounds. It saves an 
immense amount of riding and walking, and pays for itself 
once a week regularly. While you are buying a glass get a 
good one. It will cost twenty to thirty dollars, but will prove 
a good investment. 

A good compass is another important item. It should 
cost two to three dollars, and should be set in a nickel or 
silver hunting case. 

No man should ever go into the woods or mountains 
or on the plains without a water-proof match-box. And 
yet, strange as it seems, there is no such thing in the 
market. There are several which purport to be water- 
proof but are not thoroughly so. You can get a surgical- 
instrument-maker to make one out of a piece of brass tubing,^ 
say three-quarters of an inch in diameter and about two and- 
a-half inches long. 

A convenient and serviceable camp-kettle is made of 
heavy galvanized iron, and if intended for three or four men 
should be ten inches in diameter and sixteen inches deep. 
It should have a j-inch wire around the top, a bail of the 
same size, and heavy malleable iron ears. If built on these 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 569 

specifications it may be packed on a horse, and if properly 
placed in the pack the lustiest packer in the mountains may 
cinch it until he turns black in the face, and cannot hurt it. 

Two tin pails, made of heavy block-tin, should be made to 
nest in this kettle. They should be nine inches in diameter 
and eight inches deep. They should have flat covers, that 
fit tightly, with small movable iron rings at the sides, below the 
cover. Then when you desire to cook dried fruits, rice, oat- 
meal, farina, beans, and other food that is liable to scorch 
when cooking, in an ordinary camp-kettle, you can place it in 
one of these pails, put in with a sufficient quantity of water, fit 
the lid on, fill your camp-kettle half full of water, drop three 
or four pebbles in the kettle, set your tin-pail in on them, put 
a rock on top of it to hold it down, then put your camp-kettle 
on the hottest fire you can make, and let it hump itself until 
dinner is ready. Now take out your tin pail, take the cover 
off, and your rice, fruit or whatever it may be, will show up 
as clean and as deliciously cooked as your mother, wife or sister 
could cook it at home. If you cook more than you need for 
one meal, and are to move camp before the next, fit the cover 
on the pail, set it in the camp-kettle, and the cooked rations 
will ride to your next home as well as though they had not 
been cooked. 

You will need one or more large frying pans with fiat 
wrought iron handles. When cooking on a big fire you can 
cut a stick two or three feet long, split the end of it, slip the 
end of the iron handle into the split, wrap the stick with a 
cord, and then stand so far back from the fire that your meat 
will fry before your face does. 

You should also carry a good-sized wire broiler, made 
double so that the meat can be laid on one part and the 
other will fold down on it. The two handles fasten together 
with a running ring. The handle may be spliced out with a 
split stick the same as the frying pan. A half-inch board 
should be cut, of a size slightly larger than the broiiler, to 



570 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

fold in it when packing, and to keep it from being crushed 
in the pack. 

If travehng with teams and without a stove, a "Dutch oven" 
will be found useful for baking bread, meats and vegetables. 
But if you travel with pack animals, canoes or mackinaws, 
it will be found cumbersome; and in all such cases it is better 
to depend entirely upon the frying pan for baking, and on 
this, the camp-kettle and broiler for cooking meats and veg- 
etables. 

The coffee-pot and tea-pot should be made of heavy block- 
tin, with pressed lid. The handle should be riveted on and 
the bail attached by heavy malleable iron ears. 

Plates and cups should also be of block-tin; the latter 
should be pressed, should have the handles wired on at the 
top and loose at the bottom, so that any number of them will 
nest. Knives and forks should be of steel — not cast iron, and 
the former should be kept sharp enough to cut meat without 
generating profanity. 

The ax should be a full-sized one weighing about three 
pounds; should have a full-length handle; and should be 
carefully muzzled so that it will not cut up any other articles 
in the pack or in the wagon. A good muzzle is made of sole- 
leather, fastened with copper rivets, and should have straps 
to pass around the pole and over the handle and then buckle. 

I never could see the value that many hunters attach to a 
hatchet. A large hunting knife will do almost any work that 
a hatchet will do, and much in the way of cutting up game, 
etc., that it will not do. When there is a log to chop off or 
a tree of considerable size to cut down, I want a full-grown 
ax. Even when canoeing or tramping in the woods I carry 
an adult ax. 

It is possible to dispense with a number of the articles 
enumerated in the foregoing pages, when it is desirable, from 
any cause, to travel very lightly. For instance, when trav- 
eling on foot, in a big woods, and carrying the entire outfit 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 5/1 

on your own back, you will find that you can get along with 
a limited supply of bedding, extra clothing, and cooking 
utensils; and for such work it is almost impossible to give ab- 
solute instructions. Each man must act in a measure on his 
own judgment, his own taste, and his own willingness to 
carry a big load or to live like an Indian. One cannot be 
too careful in sifting out all unnecessary articles, in a case of 
this kind. It is possible for a man to go into the woods and 
live in comparative comfort for a month with no other outfit 
than a gun, a supply of ammunition, a pair of blankets, a 
few fish-hooks, a line, a bag of hard-tack and two pounds of 
salt. 

In nearly every company of three or more men will be 
found one who, if not a professional mechanic or artisan, is at 
least handy in the use of tools. When possible, such an one 
should carry with him a kit of tools and materials, such as 
are most likely to be needed for repairing possible injuries or 
breakdowns that may occur to guns, fishing tackle, boat, 
harness, wagon, cooking utensils, or other portions of the 
camp-outfit. This kit need not be complete, however, nor 
expensive, for under compulsion an ingenious mechanic may 
make one tool answer several purposes. He may draw on 
nat^ire for many implements and materials needed, if he have 
not brought them with him. The kit should include one of 
the latest and largest tool-holders, which has a thumb vise at- 
tached, and contains brad-awls, chisels, screw-driver, file, and 
several other tools in the handle. The list should also include 
a pair of strong pliers, a hammer, small hand-saw, two or 
three shoemaker's awls, a harness-needle, and a sail-needle. 
Among materials to be carried should be a strip of thong- 
leather, a piece of strap spring-steel, and half a pound each of 
Nos. 1 8 and 24 copper wire; a few wire nails, and brads 
— -assorted sizes, a few horseshoes — assorted sizes, a few 
horseshoe nails, a few screws, and a supply of the com- 
ponent parts of each rifle and gun carried by members of the 



572 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

party. All these except the saw should be carried in a stout 
canvas-case, made after the same pattern as the toilet-case 
described on page 26 of "Camping and Camp Outfits." 

It should be made large enough to hold, in addition to 
these articles, the reloading tools, if any are to be taken 
along, though as a rule it is not advisable to carry them. 
The saw should be tied between two thin pieces of board, 
of the proper size and shape to hold it so that the teeth can 
not come in contact with any other object. 

A temporary vise may be made anywhere in the woods by 
cutting down a small tree and splitting the stump in the 
center. You can spread the jaws open with the ax, insert 
the article you wish to work on, and then, if the pressure 
should not be sufficient to hold it firmly, put a rope around 
the stump just below, rig a tourniquet, and turn it until you 
get the proper pressure. 

GUNS AND RIFLES. 

On this subject there is leally little that can be said in a 
paper of this character. It is presumed that every man who 
reads this book has already formed his idea as to the best 
arm for his use. This must of course depend on where you 
are to go and what kind of game, if any, you are to hunt. 
It is presumed, furthermore, that nearly every man who goes 
on a camping trip of any kind, either for pleasure or on 
business — and even if the principal business is to be fishing, 
or resting — is to carry a firearm of some kind; for in nearly 
every wild country there is game, either large or small, and 
nearly every man likes to shoot at it when he sees it. Per- 
sonally, I prefer a large-bore rifle for all kinds of large game, 
and recommend nothing smaller than a 50-caliber for any- 
thing from deer to moose and bear. There are those, how- 
ever, who object to carrying so heavy an arm and such 
heavy ammunition. Deer, antelope, and even larger game 
may be killed, and often is killed, with a 32, 38, or 40-rifle; 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 573 

but unless hit in a vital part an animal shot with either of 
these is liable to run a long distance before giving way, and 
many animals, although killed, are thus lost. I consider it 
more humane and sportsman-like, therefore, to use a 50- 
caliber express, which will kill the game dead in its tracks 
if fairly hit. 

If one is not expert in the use of the rifle and prefers to 
use the shotgun, he will of course in most cases have made 
his choice as to the make, size and weight of the gun. In 
this line I prefer a lo-bore, and heavy charges for all 
game larger than quails and snipe. As already stated, I 
advise for either class of arms the carrying of a full supply of 
loaded cartridges, and that reloading tools be left at home. 

If you carry your cartridges in a belt you should be provided 
with suspenders, bringing the weight on your shoulders instead 
of at your waist. To this belt should be attached — if you are 
hunting big game — the scabbard containing your heavy hunt- 
ing knife, skinning knife and steel. For wing-shooting the 
better plan is to wear a vest with cartridge-holders distrib- 
uted over the front. If going long distances, you should 
provide for your guns heavy wooden cases, with lock and key, 
and well ironed, so that they may be checked with your other 
baggage. 

FISHING TACKLE. 

This is another subject that may not here be spoken of 
at length, for reasons stated in the chapter on guns, and for 
the further reason that my colleagues have prescribed the 
kinds and qualities of tackle needed for taking every variety of 
fish treated of by them. It may be briefly said that if one 
is going into the Far West he should carry both a fly and a 
bait rod. These should be packed into a strong wooden 
case that may be carried in a pack, and cinched tightly, or 
may be thrown into a wagon and buried up in boxes of grub 



574 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

and other bric-a-brac without danger of injury. If on a 
special hunting trip, take as Httle other fishing tackle as 
possible. What you do carry should be in a wooden box. 
Your tin tackle-box is no good for the wild and woolly 
country. 

PROVISIONS. 

The question as to what kinds and what quantity of food 
to carry on a camping trip is perhaps more difficult to settle 
satisfactorily than any other that besets the sportsman when 
preparing for an outing. In making up his commissariat he 
must of course be governed by the number of men that are to 
make up the party, the length of time the trip is to occupy, 
what is to be its means of transportation, and how much of 
that is to be provided; where the party is to go; whether the 
trip is to be in quest of fish or game or both. If you are to 
travel by team, over good roads, you may of course carry a 
much more elaborate bill of fare than if by pack-train, by 
canoe or on foot. As a rule, however, only plain substantial 
food should be taken into camp. This is the kind you will 
crave, the kind you will need, and delicacies should be left at 
home. As a rustler once expressed it, "Pie and cake are good 
enough at home, but they don't climb the hills worth a d — n." 

Cancel all the knickknacks on your list at the start, and 
give your stomach a rest during your outing. You doubtless 
need a chance to recover from the ill effects of the rich food 
you have been living on for years past. Bread, meat, vege- 
tables and fruits are the staples that you will require when 
you come to climb the hills, tramp over the prairies, wander 
in the dense woods, or pull on the paddles. How to make 
up a list of edibles suitable as to quantity, quality and vari- 
ety for a given number of days in the woods is therefore a 
serious question, to those who only go into the woods occa- 
sionally. To the old-timer it is the work of but a few min- 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 575 

utes. He knows by experience just what he wants to cat 
and drink, and how much of it he will need per day. His 
requisition on the supply-store, for a month's trip in the 
mountains, is usually 50 pounds of flour, 25 pounds of bacon, 
2 pounds of salt, 5 pounds of tobacco, and 5 gallons of 
whisky ; but a man of temperate habits would make an 
entirely different selection. 

As to quality, buy the best of everything; it costs but lit- 
tle more than an inferior grade and the best is none too good 
for an honest man, when hard at work. As to quantity and 
variety, no better guide can be given than the army regula- 
tions regarding the soldier's ration. This is made up as the 
result of years of study and practical experience, by men 
whose lives are spent largely in camp, and who have learned 
to a nicety what an ordinary man, engaged in active outdoor 
vv'ork — or play, for that matter — requires to keep him strong, 
healthy and happy. The lists of provisions appended to this 
chapter are based on the figures given in the army regula- 
tions as constituting the soldier's daily ration; and any man 
who has had the good fortune to fall in with a party of sol- 
diers when engaged in partaking of a meal, well knows that 
they live on the best, for their purpose, that the land can 
afford. 

If you are sure you are going to find plenty of game or 
fish, you can reduce the figures given as to the supply of 
meat materially. But don't be too sure on that point. This 
world is full of disappointments for hunters and anglers. 
You have heard of men going for wool and coming back 
shorn. 

Unless you are going to have a permanent camp, that 
can be reached by good wagon roads, don't carry any 
canned fruits. They are a delusion, and are two-thirds water. 
The chances are, you will get better water where you are 
going, and save the freight. Fruits are dried or evaporated 
nowadays in such an excellent manner that there is no need 



5/6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 

of carrying them done up in tin and water. These remarks 
apply with equal force to the popular Boston fruit — canned 
beans. All provisions should be put up in good strong canvas 
bags, or in wooden or tin boxes. Never risk paper packages 
on a camping trip, or you will very likely find your sugar, 
salt, coffee, beans and other staples sadly mixed. 

WHISKY. 

Don't take any. The guide, packer or cook is sure to 
•steal it and get drunk, if you don't keep it under lock and 
key. and you and your friends are better off without it. 

There are many other points that I should like to treat of 
but have not space to do so here. I must therefore beg 
modestly to refer the reader to my book, "Camping and Camp 
Outfits," wherein exhaustive details are given on all points 
pertaining to this subject. 

CHECK-LISTS. 

Of Articles Constititting Camp- Outfits, for Various Seasons 
and Under Varying Conditions. 

With reference to the first of the following lists it may be 
noted that a strong man can carry fifty pounds ten or fifteen 
miles a day comfortably, when accustomed to this kind of 
labor. If traveling by canoe the only addition necessary to 
make to the loads, in case of portages, would be the canoe and 
paddles. If no long portages are to be made, a photograph 
camera should be added to the list, and a few luxuries may 
be taken along; but they should be such as are light, and 
take but little room. 

The total weight of such articles, enumerated in the second 
list, as are to be carried on the pack-animals, is about 320 
pounds, or 160 pounds to each animal. With these loads 
they will travel comfortably twenty to thirty-five miles a day. 
As the provisions and cartridges are used up, skins, heads or 
other trophies may be added to the load in their stead. No 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 



577 



animal should ever be allowed to carry more than 250 pounds, 
and small ones not more than 1 50 to 200. Overloading is 
cruel and is nearly sure to cause sore backs. 

SUPPLIES FOR TWO MEN FOR A TEN DAYS' TRIP ON FOOT. 



10 pounds hard bread. 
12 pounds bacon. 
3 pounds dried apples or 
peaches. 

2 pounds salt. 

3 pounds sugar. 
2 pounds coffee, roasted 

and ground, or 
i pound tea. 
2 sleeping bags, or 

blankets. 
2 rifles or guns. 
100 cartridges. 
2 fishing rods. 
2 reels. 

Hooks, lines, flies, reels, 
etc. 
Total weight about 90 pounds. 
It is possible to curtail this list slightly, but 
of comfort. 



2 belts and hunting 

knives. 
2 pocket knives. 
I a.xe. 

1 tent. 

2 pack straps. 

3 suits e.xtra underwear, 
in bags. 

4 pairs socks. 
2 rubber coats. 
2 compasses. 
2 watches. 
I camp kettle. 
I frying pan. 
I wire broiler. 
I stew pan. 



1 coffee pot. 

2 tin plates. 
2 spoons. 

2 tin cups. 

1 dish cloth. 

2 pounds tobacco. 
2 pipes. 

1 map. 
300 matches. 

2 water-proof match 

boxes. 
2 ounces insect lotion. 
2 cakes soap. 
2 towels. 
2 tooth brushes. 
Supply of small change. 



not without some sacrifice 



37 



578 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



SUPPLIES FOR TWO MEN FOR TEN DAYS, TRAVELING WITH 
TWO SADDLE HORSES AND TWO PACK 
HORSES, SUMMER OR FALL. 



2 saddle horses. 

2 pack horses. 

2 riding saddles. 

2 pack saddles. 

2 bridles. 

4 saddle blankets. 

4 picket ropes. 

2 sling ropes. 

2 lash ropes. 

2 cinches. 

2 manteaus. 
50 feet quarter-inch rope. 
50 feet half-inch rope. 

2 gun slings. 

2 rifles or guns. 
200 cartridges. 

2 cleaning outfits for 
guns. 

1 small can of oil. 

2 belts, 

1 axe. 

2 hunting knives. 
2 skinning knives. 
2 pocket knives. 

2 steels. 

1 map. 

2 compasses. 
2 watches, 

2 pack straps, 
2 prs. goggles or smoked 
glasses, 

2 pairs ear muffs. 

1 photograph camera. 

3 dozen celluloid plates. 

2 fishing rods. 



12 flies, assorted colors. 

2 sleeping bags, or 

3 pairs heavy wool 

blankets. 
2 pillows. 

1 tent. 

2 sheets, canvas. 

2 suits heavy woolen 
clothes. 

4 heavy woolen under- 

shirts. 

4 pairs heavy woolen 
drawers. 

4 heavy woolen outside 
shirts. 

6 pairs heavy woolen 
socks, 

2 light felt hats. 

2 pairs buckskin gloves. 

2 rubber coats. 

2 pairs rubber hip boots. 

2 prs, heavy leather shoes. 

2 bags to carry clothing 
in. 

4 pairs buckskin mocca- 
sins. 

I camp kettle. 

Stamped envelopes and 
paper. 

I frying pan. 

I wire broiler. 

I stew pan. 

1 coffee pot. 

2 tin plates. 
2 spoons. 



2 tin cups. 
2 dish cloths. 

1 box matches, 

2 water proof pocket 

match boxes. 
20 pounds flour, or 
15 pounds hard bread. 
14 pounds bacon. 

3 pounds dried apples or 

peaches, 
3 pounds oat or rye meal. 
3 pounds beans. 
3 pounds rice. 

2 pounds salt. 

i pound pepper. 

3 pounds sugar. 

2 pounds roasted and 
ground coffee, or 

^ pound tea. 

2 pounds desiccated vege- 
tables. 

2 pounds tobacco. 

2 pipes. 

2 toilet cases, each con- 
taining soap, towels, 
tooth-brush, needles, 
thread, buttons, safety- 
pins, and other small 
articles, 

I kit tools and materials 
for repairing camp 
equipage, etc. 

4 horse shoes. 

1 pound horse nails. 

2 pounds powdered alum, 



PRACTICAL POINTS ON CAMPING OUT. 



579 



2 reels and lines. 2 knives. 

12 bait hooks, assorted 2 forks, 

sizes. 



for curing skins. 
Supply of small change. 



SUPPLIES FOR TWO MEN FOR TEN DAYS, TRAVELING BY 
TEAM, SUMMER OR FALL. 



1 team and its equipment. 
50 feet quarter-inch rope. 
50 feet half-inch rope. 

2 rifles or guns. 
2 gun slings. 

200 cartridges. 

2 cleaning outfits for 
guns. 
I small can of oil for 
guns. 
2 belts. 

1 axe. 

2 hunting knives. 
2 skinning knives. 
2 pocket knives. 

2 steels. 
2 comp.isses. 
2 watches. 
2 pack straps. 

1 map. 

2 prs. goggles or smoked 

glasses. 
Stamped envelopes and 
paper. 
2 pairs ear muffs. 

1 photograph camera. 
24 celluloid plates. 

2 fishing rods. 

2 reels and lines. 
12 bait hooks, assorted 

sizes. 
12 flies, assorted colors. 

2 sleeping bags, or 



I tent. 

1 camp cooking stove. 

2 sheets, canvas, 4x8 ft. 

1 folding camp table. 

2 folding camp chairs. 

1 hammock. 

2 suits heavy woolen 

clothes. 

4 heavy woolen under- 
shirts. 

4 pairs heavy woolen 
drawers. 

4 heavy woolen outside 
shirts. 

6 pairs heavy woolen 
socks. 

2 light felt hats. 

2 pairs buckskin gloves. 

2 rubber coats. 

2 pairs rubber hip boots. 

2 prs. heavy leather shoes. 

4 pairs moccasins. 

2 bags to carry clothing 
in. 

I folding canvas boat. 

I camp kettle. 

I frying pan. 

I wire broiler. 

I stew pan. 

I bread pan. 

I coffee pot. 

1 Dutch oven. 

2 tin plates. 



2 tin cups. 

2 dish cloths. 

I bar laundry soap. 

1 box matches. 

2 waterproof pocket 

match boxes. 
20 pounds flour, or 
15 pounds hard bread. 
14 pounds bacon. 

2 pounds dried apples. 

2 pounds dried peaches. 

2 pounds dried apricots. 

3 pounds oat or rye meal, 
2 pounds beans. 

2 pounds rice. 
5 pounds salt. 

i pound pepper. 

3 pounds sugar. 

2 pounds roasted and 
ground coffee, or 

i pound tea. 
25 pounds potatoes. 

2 pounds tobacco. 

2 pipes. 

2 toilet cases, each con 
taining soap, towels, 
tooth brush, hair brush, 
needles, thread, but- 
tons, safety pins, etc. 

I kit tools and materials 
for repairing wagon, 
camp equipage, etc. 

4 horse shoes. 



580 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



4 pairs of heavy wool 

blankets. 
2 mattresses, or 
2 folding cot beds. 
2 pillows. 



1 folding rubber bucket. 

2 spoons. 
2 knives 
2 forks. 



25 horse nails. 
2 pounds powdered alum 
for curing skins. 
Supply of small change. 



If more than one pack-animal to each man is provided, 
then a folding canvas boat, folding cots, chairs, and even 
a table may be carried. A sheet-iron cooking stove may be 
taken, but it adds greatly to the labor of packing and but lit- 
tle to the comfort or convenience of the party. 

For a larger or smaller number of people, or for a longer 
or shorter outing, the requisite quantity of supplies may be 
determined by multiplication or subtraction. 



DO YOU KNOW 

THAT THE 

Hannaford Ventilated Rubber Booti 

CAN BE ■WORN WITH 

ABSOLUTE COMFORT 

WITHOUT SWEATING, CHILLING, OR DRAWING THE FEET? 



ASK YOUR DEALER FOR THEM OR SEND FOB CIRCULARS. 

HANNAFORD VENTILATED BOOT CO., 

79 Milk Street, Boston. 



ANGLKRS WHO ARE IN WANT OF 

Rods, Lines, or Hooks 

THAT WILL NOT BREAK, AND 

Reels which will not get out of order through fault of 
material or workmanship, 

AND Alvlv AT IvlODERATK PRICES, 

Send Ten Cents in Stamps for a Ninety-page Illustrated Catalogue 
and Price List of Fishing Tackle, to 

L B SHIPLEY Sl SON., Factory and Warehouse, 503 Commerce St., Philadelphia. 



MAPS AND GUIDES 

TO ALL OP THE 

PRINCIPAL CITIES 

Every Country in the World. 

Globes, Map Racks, Spring Map Rotlers, Wall and Pocket 

Maps, Historical Maps; Classical, Biblical, Historical, 

Anatomical, Astronomical, Physical, and General 

Atlases of all kinds kept in Stock. 

Address RAND, McNALLY & CO., 

MAP PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS, 

166 and 168 Adams Street, CHICAGO, ILL. 



KN OLD CHLIFORNIH HHCIENDH. 




ALIFORNIA 



IS REACHED IN THE MOST COMFORTABLE MANNER OVER THE 

f\tQ\)\so\), JopeKa & Sapta pe I^. I^. 

Pullman Palace Sleeping Cars run from 

Chicago to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, 



AND MAKE THE TRIP, 



Chicago to San Francisco, 
Chicago to Los Angeles, 
Chicago to San Diego, 



2,577 miles in 5,815 minutes. 
2,265 miles in 5,610 minutes. 
2,392 miles in 5,790 minutes. 



NO OTHER LINE CAN OFFER SUCH TIME OR ADVANTAGES. 



OFFICES: 



261 Broadway, - New York City. 
332 Washington St., Boston, Mass. 
29 South 6th St., PHiLADELPmA, Pa. 



212 Clark St., - - Chicago. III. 
loi North Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. 
Chronicle Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. 



G T. NICHOLSON, W.F.WHITE, JNO. J. BYRNE, 

Gen'ip"" and Ticket Agt.. PassT Traffic Mgr., • ^^'^ I'-^;J;;'^*- 

TOPEKA, KAN. CHICAGO. CHICAGO. 



C hicago 
f./^ Qrand 

Trunk R- 




II 



aiiil llniim Gar lule 




\,^_- 




IN CONNECTION "WITH 



The Grand Trunk Railway 

IS THE FKiiORITE TOURISTS' ROUTE to all 

Eastern Summer Resorts, including Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands. Adirondacks, 
Rapids of the St. Lawrence, White Mountains, and the Sea. 

THROUGH PALACE SLEEPING CARS BETWEEN CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 
VIA NIAGARA FALLS. 



f[\a<^T)\f\QeT)t fleu; pullmai} Sleepers 

DAILY BETWEEN 

Chicago and Detroit, Chicago and Saginaw Valley, 

Chicago and all Canadian Points, Chicago and Boston. 

Passengers for Canada can now have their baggage examined and passed customs 
and checked to destination at our depot in Chicago, thereby avoiding annoyance and 
delay at the Canadian frontier. 

For tickets at lowest rates, apply at ticket offices in the "West, or to 

E. H. HUGHES, GEN'L WESTERN PASSENGER AGENT, 
103 SOUTH CLARK STREET, CHICAGO. 



"W. J. SPICER, Gen'l Manager. 

GEO. B. REEVE, Traffic Manager. 

"W. E. DAVIS, Gen'l Pass'r and Ticket Agt. 

Chicago & grand trunk ry. 



Ii. J. SEARGEANT, Gen'l Manager. 
"WM. EDGAR, Gen'l Pass'r Agent. 

Grand trunk railway. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



DODEDfllOHSE 



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